Faber Talks Good Governance on Independence Day

Patrick Faber

With the retirement of PM Barrow, Leader elect Patrick Faber of the United Democratic Party is facing Opposition Leader John Briceño in the upcoming general elections.  Faber addressed the Independence Day ceremony as chair of the September Celebrations. He pitched a need for improved governance to ensure that transparency and accountability are observed, as well as a doing away with secret deals and sell-offs.

Patrick Faber, Chair, September Celebrations Committee

“In order for such a future to be realized, it means that our governance must rise to the challenge with an openness that invites new ideas and that includes the input of all citizen.  Today, with the ubiquity of instant communication, policies and systems can and should be put in place to ensure transparency and accountability in government, transactions and universal participation in decision making and to ensure that the voices of all Belizeans are heard and accounted for.  The old style of closed government must give way to a government that works for the people and where equity is favoured and special interest of the connected few is rejected.  The open government that I envision means that secret deals and large sell-offs can no longer be tolerated and it means that true partnerships between labour, enterprise, government and civil society has to be forged and maintained.  That, ladies and gentlemen is what I can assure you a continued U.D.P. administration will aim for.”