P.U.P. Unveils Policies
John Briceño
Along with a national demonstration, the People’s United Party also unveiled its strategic plan to effectively deal with corruption in government. Leader John Briceño says that policies will be implemented along with the amendments of legislation that aim to cease criminal and improper activities in government. Briceño says that under a P.U.P. administration, UNCAC will be implemented and the offices of government agencies such as the Auditor General Office, the Contractor General and the Integrity Commission will be well resourced to keep accountability and transparency in government.
John Briceño, Leader of the Opposition
“We will ensure an independent public’s account committee, one that is strengthened that substantive ministers cannot be members of the PAC. All house committee including PAC meeting will be opened to the public and streamed live. Second, the Integrity Commission must do its job effectively. To do so it should no longer be controlled by the party in government. We will put in place a mechanism to ensure the financial independence of the Integrity Commission with a budget to be approved directly by the National Assembly. They need the tools and personnel to get the job done. Third, the recent crisis of misappropriation of government funds was a clear indication that we need a strong and independent office of the Auditor General. The next P.U.P. government will ensure that the Auditor General’s office has unrestricted office to information and with full powers of investigation including subpoena powers to ensure that request for information and documentations are complied with expeditiously. The Auditor General office will be permitted to submit their budget directly to the National Assembly for approval. Most importantly, we will ensure that the Auditor General is allowed to present reports directly to the National Assembly and not only to the Prime Minister, Fourth, the P.U.P. will not only implement UNCAC but we will also enact campaign finance legislation. In the first one hundred days the new P.U.P. government will direct the office of the Attorney General to draft campaign finance legislation which will be subject to national consultation and review before a final bill is tabled and passed into law.”
