The year 2013 was not a particularly good one for governance, transparency and accountability. At the parliamentary level, the combined Opposition and the Government continue to wrestle for control, without the prospect of a breakthrough to work together in a genuine effort and in a spirit of compromise and goodwill to put nation’s interest ahead of partisan politics. The budget process is a typical example, and all the signs are there that we are heading for a third consecutive year of showdown as regards financial resources to be allocated to various government programmes and projects.
There are, however, three positives that we can identify:
The appointment of Mr. Winston Moore as Ombudsman ‘to investigate any action taken by a government department or other authority, or by the President, Ministers, officers or members of such a department or authority in relation to the exercise of the administrative functions