COPY OF THE PP MANIFESTO 2010 PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY The People are Sovereign Our government will create a continuing awareness among our People that they have a right to participate in the Governance of our country. We will incorporate mechanisms which will permit the Voice of the People to be heard and to be taken into account in the Policies which we adopt as a Government. Some of the actions that we will take are: Constitutional Reform As a matter of urgency, our government will engage the population in consultations for Constitutional Reform. We will observe the bedrock principle that the Constitution should emerge out of the collective aspirations, will and judgment of the people of Trinidad & Tobago. The difference will be that consultations will inform and influence documents produced and positions taken by Government. Our Government will table amendments to provide for and/or strengthen provisions for the following, as may be required: • Checks and balances to safeguard against the abuse of power • Respect for the voices of minorities, while acknowledging the will of the majority • A free press unfettered by government intimidation and uncompromised by government preference • Access to official information • Integrity in public life • Containment and Eradication of corruption • The introduction of Procurement Legislation which is fair, efficient and transparent • Mandatory provisions for making Local Government an integral part of the governance process • A right of recall for non-performing parliamentary representatives • Fixed election dates for national and local electionsPage 16 Manifesto 2010 • Mechanisms for a referendum process • Limiting the Prime Minister to two successive terms as Head of Government • Rules governing the conduct of the Government and political parties during an election period. We will establish a Constitution Commission to engage in the widest possible consultation as a pre-requisite to constitutional reform. We strongly believe that the relationship between the Tobago House of Assembly and the Central Government needs to be revisited, with particular reference to the aspirations of the people of Tobago. The terms of the Constitution Commission will extend to the legislative provisions touching upon the THA as well as examination of the best way to achieve a mutually respectful and satisfying relationship between Tobago and Trinidad within the framework of a sustainable unitary state. Local Government Genuine democracy requires effective representation, transparency, participation, accountability to change the lives of people in our Communities and to alter their relationship with government. We will provide citizens and communities with the opportunity to determine what priorities, projects and services will be delivered to their respective communities to ensure that Regional Corporations and Municipalities discharge their responsibility for basic infrastructure, maintenance, services and other facilities and support systems. We will provide Local Government with the necessary funding and other resources from the Central Government, within the current legislative and regulatory framework to enable them to deliver quality services to the communities. LOCAL GOVERNMENT TRANSFORMATION Actions our Government will take • Devolution of authority and resources, within national policy guidelines, from central government ministries such as Community Development, Housing, Social Welfare, Sports, Planning, Environment etc. • Equitable financial allocation to regions • Adoption of a much more decentralised model for regional development planning • Collaborative governance procedures • Regional coordination of the delivery of water, electricity, telephones and other basic infrastructure and services • Community-based security and rehabilitation arrangements • Expanded responsibilities and increased compensation for local representatives • Establish mechanisms to ensure high performance and accountability.
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 21:07:26 +0000
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