Government is hoping to receive feedback from civil society on the Code of Conduct proposed for government ministers and public officials in the coming weeks, Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman says.
He told reporters on Friday that they have so far received a very studied and extensive critique from the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) “which we are just about to start studying.” He noted that the document had been shared with the press for further dissemination as well as non-governmental organisations.
In this regard, he said that Transparency International and the Guyana Bar Association were sent copies and government is hoping that in the weeks ahead, their feedback would be received.
In September, President of the Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI) Calvin Bernard had said that government should create a mechanism through which the public can meaningfully contribute to the Code of Conduct. Although he thinks the draft code is soft, Bernard commended the government for moving towards putting it in place but stressed that it is important that the process is done correctly.
Earlier in September, Trotman had announced that the draft was completed, but government would await the public’s reaction before it becomes final. Ministers, however, are already abiding by it.
The proposed code, seen by Stabroek News, sets out actions that could result in ministers, parliamentarians and other public office holders facing disciplinary action or being fired, including failure to declare conflicts of interest or accepting expensive gifts or “lavish” entertainment from persons doing business with government.
