We know all about central government and United Nations Convention Against Corruption, called UNCAC. But, those anti-corruption measures have to be applied in municipal government as well. And while you might think of them as small-time - in charge of garbage collection and drain-sweeping, that's a misconception. If you combine all the municipal governments in Belize they have a collective budget of 138 million and employ 1,500 persons. But, they don't have the strict regulations or procedures that are in place for central government - and we all know how the rules are bent and broken in Belmopan - so imagine what might be happening in your village, town or city! That's why today the Ministry of Local Government held an Accountability and Transparency governance training. Mayor Darrell Bradley gave the opening remarks and we grilled him over whether these standards can even be applied to local government institutions and personalities:
Darrell Bradley, Mayor - Belize City
"The discussion on accountability and transparency, it represents a serious challenge to the development of our various communities. And so I think that what we are doing here today, while in terms of the textual aspect of it - looking at laws and regulations- it may be technocratic, and it may be - as you have said- dry, using your words. But I actually think that this conversation is very very critical. We need to look at the performance overall in this case of local government and how effective we are in relation to meeting our statutory mandate to deliver a high quality of life for various municipalities. So actually local government is very very important, and we need to look at how do we more prioritize our services, how do we deliver better services, and how do we ensure that we are high performing entities."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"However, I am saying that the culture of transparency is very far removed from the culture of governance in municipalities. I have with me what the integrity commission sent: 58 municipal names who have not submitted their integrity filings. Some of them are former councillors, but in total there are 58 names there for persons who have not properly submitted their integrity filings. Obviously something is amiss in the culture of governance in municipalities where it's anything goes: 'We aren't subjected to the same standards as central government.'"
Darrell Bradley, Mayor - Belize City
"Well I won't agree with you there. I will say that there is a great degree of confidence in municipal government, so that I think we have much to go, I will not discount the point that you are making - that we really need to create a culture of accountability, not only at the local government, but at all levels of government - but that where it comes to performance you do have high performing municipal entities. What we are saying is that there is a place for the training because you will have a great degree of public awareness and discussion on these various topical areas. We're not where we need to be. What you have showed me in terms of the listing represents a blight on municipal government, and we need to ensure that we are correcting these things."
Jules Vasquez
"But you don't meet the compliance target because we know how contracts are given in your city council- that it's not three tenders that have to bid and you have to pick the best. It's not a selective tender process. It's like 'who paved that street last time? He did a good job.' or 'he helped me out with so and so.' It's ad hoc. I mean your - this UDP city council under a previous mayor invented the term 'under deposit.' That is the apotheosis of misgovernance in municipalities."
Darrell Bradley, Mayor - Belize City
"Well I will say that if we want to throw stones we can do that all the time. What I will say is that there is a recognition on the part of local government that we have to do better. We have to improve in relation to these nine streets that we recently did. What we are doing is that we are extending a supplier's credit so that it's actually going to be done by a contractor, RJB construction, and we're not going to pay them anything right now. But I don't think-"
Jules Vasquez
"RJB is responsible, if it needs to be said, for Lake I Boulevard and Chetumal Street, both of which are in various states of ruin. I don't mean to be unkind, but it's a matter of fact."
Darrell Bradley, Mayor - Belize City
"I wouldn't say that Chetumal Boulevard is in any state of ruin."
Jules Vasquez
"It has a significant degeneration at the intersection with Arthur Hoy [street]."
Darrell Bradley, Mayor - Belize City
"Yea, I mean I am saying that in relation to the aspirations of government, in relation to tendering, in relation to ensuring that you have accountability and transparency, we are moving in that direction. If you want to point on this street's crack or that street's crack or this one does that… we can do that. We will never change the situation. What we're saying is there is a willing and commitment to want to have improvements. This is the thinking and the theory of the training."
It was an all-day session with representation of municipal offices across the country.
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