UPP to establish a petitions committee

THE United Progressive Party (UPP) is promising to establish a petitions committee to make sure that Parliament is more responsive to the concerns of the citizens outside of election time.

UPP is also saying it would add a petitions portal to the Parliament website to facilitate petitions.

“Barbadian citizens and residents will be allowed to create and sign petitions. If a petition can get 10 000 signatures you get a response from Government and your petition will be considered for debate in Parliament,” the UPP Governance Manifesto stated, also outlining that it will establish clear regulations for these petitions including the process by which a person is invited to Parliament to speak about their petition.

The United Progressive Party said it will also ensure that the Government is accountable to the citizens of Barbados and can be trusted. UPP says it believes in a clean Government staffed by persons whose character is marked by their honesty and integrity, and who are committed to rendering impeccable service to their country. The civil service therefore needs to be restructured, the manifesto outlined.

“The UPP will cut out unnecessary and disrupted posts and instead staff offices like the Audit Office and the Public Counsel. Implement public sector reforms aimed at improving the conditions of service, developing national capacity to revitalise our economy. Improve the process by which performance is monitored, assessed and evaluated in the public sector,” the manifesto stressed. (AH)