Jun 26 - Government Insists Quality of Democracy has Improved
Reacting to the Opposition’s recent statement on democratic reform, the Government today insisted that there has been more action made on the matter since the election of the GSLP/Liberals in 2011, ‘than there ever was under the previous administration, where the issue was raised shortly before the general election almost as an afterthought.’
The Government insisted that more parliament meetings have been held over the past two years, than in the eight years under the GSD. The Administration also touches upon the introduction of ‘Direct democracy’, which allows the public or the media to question the Chief Minister on issues within the community.
The Commission on Democratic and Political Reform, formed in 2012, issued a consultation paper in June 2012 and then a subsequent publication in January 2013. The Chief Minister then appointed a Select Committee to deal with the matter.
The Government insists that ‘It is important to note that three of the five points raised by the Opposition were already the subject of deliberation by the Commission. In recommendation 19, the Commission said that Parliament should make greater use of Standing Orders to nominate Select Committees where appropriate.
‘In recommendation 20 the Commission declared that Standing Orders should be revised to improve the public petition system as a way of enhancing public participation in the parliamentary process, along the lines of the system in the United Kingdom. This is part of the work to be covered by the Select Committee which has now been pre-empted by the Opposition statement.’
The Government adds that the role of determining allegations if lying to Parliament is clear and a motion must be brought to the floor of the House for consideration. They note that the GSD was happy with this mechanism formerly, when they held a majority in the house.
