B.C.C.I. Calls on G.O.B. to Exercise Transparency, Accountability and Good Governance

The Barrow administration is being called upon to exercise transparency, accountability and good governance.  This comes on the heels of long term contracts recently issued past the life of the current government.  The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry in a release today said that the government continues to operate within the grey areas on matters of conflict of interest in matters of procurement, and its failure to satisfy the principles of fairness and equal treatment and transparency.  The B.C.C.I. notes that there have been instances when just before an election, the government awards employment and real estate rental contracts that extend far beyond their term in office.  This, says the Chamber, unduly burdens an incoming government and saddles taxpayers with costs which outweigh the value of the good or service as well as contractual agreements with penalties for early termination.  The B.C.C.I. refers to the Public Procurement Handbook which discourages nepotism, preferential treatment, amongst other corrupt practices.  Belizean taxpayers, says the B.C.C.I., are weary, overburdened and faced with an accelerating economic crisis which dictates that irresponsible behavior with public funds will no longer be tolerated. In recent days the government issued a ten-year contract to Brads for the administration of the lottery. There is also the rental of the former office of the PM’s law office by the Scenes and Crime Unit of the Police. The City Council has also had to settle with the former city administrator for a employment contract issued just prior to the last municipal elections.