These five policies were announced today by the GSD under the banner of Enhanced Democracy. Direct Representations to Parliament If elected in 2015, we are committed to introducing a system that will allow individuals or groups to raise petitions which with sufficient support will trigger a Parliamentary debate. By allowing direct access to the Parliamentary agenda we generate a positive engagement by the electorate in Parliamentary affairs whilst empowering the public to directly influence Parliamentary debate- after all it is their Parliament and it is in their name that we speak. 3.2 Selection Process to Statutory Bodies Specifically designed to deal with cronyism, a cross party parliamentary committee would be established with equal membership from Government and Opposition benches, with the opportunity, by agreement of the committee, to appoint other non-aligned members of the community. This would ensure that any Government is unable to appoint its own supporters or sponsors into positions of influence within Statutory Bodies and that such appointments must be by mutual consent, ensuring Parliamentarians are afforded the opportunity to work together. We would also review where it is appropriate for a member of the Opposition to sit on a statutory body, DPC is a good example of where we believe this to be appropriate. 3.3 Public Accounts Committee and Public Finances We will establish a Public Accounts Committee which will have oversight on how our money is being spent. This reform is essential for the proper checks and balances. The Gibraltar Savings Bank No money from the Gibraltar Savings Bank will be used in order to fund expenditure which is properly the expenditure of the Government. If the Government wants to spend any money it must do so out of reserves, surpluses or Government borrowing as It has always done prior to the GSLP-Liberal Government decision to use savers’ money as a covert form of borrowing. Credit Finance Company Limited We will not continue to use this company or any other as a Government credit card that is not accountable to Parliament or is not reflected fully in the accounts of Government at budget time. Our commitment is: 1. To publish in full details of where this money has been spent; 2. Bring those loans on to the books of the Government so that a true picture of Government debt will emerge; 3. Not allow a Government owned company in future to be used as an unaccountable Government credit card again, where debts and expenditure properly of the Government are kept away from full parliamentary scrutiny and the books of the Government. 3.4 Lying to Parliament A committee will be established, entirely independent of the legislature, to investigate allegations of lying to parliament. The Committee will include former parliamentarians from within and outside Gibraltar. All appointees will have to be agreed by both the Government and Opposition. 3.5 Open Register of Electors The Register of Electors will be kept open at all times. Apart from official pre-election notification to households to register, individuals, on qualification to the Register will be entitled to apply directly for inclusion. This would prevent exclusion and disenfranchisement of anyone entitled to vote if an unexpected election, such as a by-election is triggered. No one who would otherwise be entitled to vote should be disenfranchised due to an administrative process which precludes them.
Posted on: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 12:46:18 +0000
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