Insist, by any means necessary, that Government lead in setting the example in complying with and conducting all its affairs by respecting the rule of law as defined in the Constitution, ancillary laws and government orders of our country. Loopholes in the law, if there are, will be eliminated the soonest. The Department of Public Prosecution will be strengthened by giving tenure to its Director and by allocating the needed resources to complement the work of the Police and increase the rate of conviction of law breakers

Immediately appoint all professional personnel of the Commission (IC) and provide necessary funding for its Secretariat to fulfill the important legal, auditing and investigative roles free from any undue political influence. The IC will be capacitated to fast‐track implementation of commitments under the UNCAC agreement. The IC will investigate past and present corruption in government, identify those responsible for violation of laws and regulations, and recommend prosecution to the DPP and Police Department. Also the IC shall support the work of Belizean institutions (e.g. Attorney General, Public Service Ministry, DPP and Police Dept) to investigate and prosecute acts of corruption. The IC shall coordinate with the UNCAC to provide technical assistance and capacitation for our national institutions to tighten up legislation and make them better equipped to fight corruption in Belize.

Streamline Cabinet so that the three branches (i.e. the Executive, Legislative and the Judiciary) function as truly complementary but separate powers as envisaged in the Constitution. Insist on exercising functions per code of conduct as stipulated in Article 121 of our Constitution. The PUP government is to establish sound systems and good practices for recruitment of judges, magistrates and officers of the Court, to be employed with security of tenure and be held responsible for the efficient administration of justice

Limit the subjective authority of Ministers by removing their discretionary powers and reduce the need for letters from Ministers for everything under the sun. Presently, letters from Ministers are needed for recruitment, for example to the Police and the Belize Defense Force, a practice unheard of hitherto.

Implement a government procurement process through an E‐marketplace for the GoB, statutory bodies and state‐owned organizations based on best models used by countries in the region. Procurement of supplies, works and services must abide by strict rules in order to ensure fairness, competition and transparency. These rules ensure that suitably qualified suppliers or contractors are chosen without bias and that the best price/quality ratio and the best price is obtained, with the full transparency appropriate to the use of public funds. The Office of the Contractor General will be strengthened to ensure full compliance with established rules and procedures in each step of the process from the issuing of call for tenders and for proposals, publication, and all he procedures for establishing shortlists, evaluation, award and signing of contracts.

For fair, effective representation and participation, ensure the independence of the Elections & Boundaries Commission to be free from political interference. Its Chairman is to be appointed in a similar fashion as the DPP and Auditor‐General, so the EBC can be autonomous and free from government control. Ensure that all elected representatives and local governments participate in the budgeting process and development programs. For example, implementing the Constituency Development Fund will enable elected representatives to be pro‐active in supporting grass‐roots development initiatives in their own constituencies

Take immediate steps to restore the autonomy of the public service (prevent micro‐management by political directorate), to enhance customer orientation and quality service delivery, and to provide innovative solutions to complex challenges of the day. Assist the Public Service Commission to re‐establish integrity and impartiality in recruiting, training, evaluating and disciplining processes. Revert to having Permanent Secretaries, i.e. using senior career public officers, as accounting officers of the Ministries.

Public officers will be made to do their job, without fear or favor, punishment will be swift for incompetence and/or corruption, and penalties will be increased for acts of corruption and public authority abuses. Introduce necessary legislation with measures to protect whistle‐blowers and witnesses involved in corruption cases.

Promote and support programs on civic education, Belizeans history and civic responsibility in our educational system, from primary school to university levels, to strengthen participation of all stakeholders in policy advocacy, development strategies and other important issues such as the Guatemalan claim and constitutional reforms. The aim is improve citizen competence, electoral choices and value‐for‐money investments. If Belizeans believe that we should change our system of government, e.g. via a referendum, then we should do so by following the established procedures.

The PUP will improve legislative governance by providing greater oversight by the National Assembly with respect to the work of the House Committees; increase number of meetings of the House and Senate per year; make House Committee Meetings truly public and participatory; review and promulgate the Standing Orders so the wider public can know and understand the workings of the National

The PUP will empower the Senate/House of Representatives to act as an oversight body to the government:

• More authority and autonomy for the senate so that it can carry out its functions
• Establish Standing Senate Committees that will have the authority to conduct inquiries into any and all matters with a view to advancing the cause of nation-building. So the Inquiries won’t necessarily all be probes into central government corruption or For example, a Senate Standing Committee on Education and Housing may choose to examine why there are so many high school dropouts, with a view to making suggestions as to how to eradicate that problem, or how can we ensure that education is truly free for the masses from pre-school to junior college, or what is the present housing stock in the country and whether there is a more pressing need for home repairs or actual new housing.
• We will establish an independent and robust agency to give technical support and otherwise to the Senate This agency will assist the Senate Committees to follow up and act on reports of the Auditor General, the Ombudsman, the Contractor General and any other report tabled in the National Assembly. It will also assist in receiving and investigating allegations and disclosures from whistleblowers on behalf of the Senate Committees.
• Ensure that all elected representatives have input and direct budgetary expenditure in his/her constituency so that backbenchers can become more autonomous and begin to operate first and foremost as representatives of the people in their constituencies rather than as Cabinet Ministers in waiting.

• We will immediately appoint and strengthen the Integrity Commission, providing the necessary funds for its Secretariat to fulfill its important legal, auditing and investigative roles free from any undue political
• Monitor the conduct and performance of Government Ministers and all elected officials in public life to ensure their “honorable” exercise of duties and responsibilities, and to prevent any behavior that can bring disrepute and shame to our nation, to our government and/or to our Such embarrassing behavior will lead to their immediate expulsion from the Cabinet.
• If a Minister is found breaking the law he/she will be subjected to the legal process and will face the consequences like any other person, including jail The rule of law means nothing if the laws do not apply equally to all.
• To limit the subjective authority of Ministers by removing the discretionary powers and reduce the need for letters from Ministers for everything under the Presently, letters from Ministers are needed for recruitment to the Police and the Belize Defense Force, a hitherto unheard of thing. Public officers will be made to do their job, without fear or favor, and punishment will be swift for incompetence and/or corruption.

• Implement a government procurement process that is transparent: an E-marketplace for the Government of Belize and state owned organizations based on models used by several countries in the All information will be placed on the Internet and made accessible to the public for their participation in the bidding and supply process of the Government. It is also a fast track system for the public procurement of goods and services making all information available to the public and in particular to the media. At all times the public will know what was purchased from whom (not only the company but also ultimate beneficiary owner/s of the company), and at what price.
• Implement a National Budget Monitoring System to guarantee transparency of the budget and to ensure efficient use of the national The Cabinet will coordinate the budget process, the quarterly publication of budget expenditure and the monitoring and evaluation of budget expenditure of all government departments.
• The Government (through the Ministry of Health) will purchase as many pharmaceuticals for the National Formulary as possible through programs available at the Multilateral Agencies like PAHO who assist in obtaining medication at more competitive prices and of better quality.

Within the first year of office we will present legislation to regulate campaign We will also propose and enact legislation to limit campaigning up to the day before elections. On Election Day all campaigning, paraphernalia, advertising etc. will not be allowed as it is done in other Caribbean countries.

• We will insist, by any means necessary, that the UDP Government comply with the rule of law and conduct nationwide re-registration in 2017. The recent findings of 700 pages of unadulterated corruption in the Immigration Department lay bare for all to see the untold numbers of foreigners who received Belizean nationality by fraudulent means with the consequence being that these new fraudsters can and do vote in municipal and general elections, deciding for Belizeans who should be their government.
• Implement a fixed date for general elections similar to that of municipal elections.
• Implement a transparent redistricting exercise, free from any appearance of political manipulation, with the goal being a fair representation of the public.
• Introduce campaign financing legislation.
• Introduce an independent Elections & Boundaries Commission that shall be free from political interference with a Chairman who is appointed in a similar fashion as the DPP and Auditor-General, so he or she can be autonomous and free from the perception of governmental control.

• All Judges and Magistrates of the Court will be employed with security of The PUP will establish sound systems and good practices for recruitment of all officers of the Court and will hold them responsible for the efficient administration of justice and to ensure the separation of powers of the state as clearly stipulated in the Constitution:
• Cease and desist from the public badgering and coercing of the judiciary by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.
• The Director of Public Prosecution will also be given security of tenure and the Department of Public Prosecution will be given the necessary resources to ensure that it complements the work of the Police to increase the rate of successful prosecution, particularly in murder cases.

• We will reconstitute the Public Accounts Committee for the effective participation of the Social Partners in the Senate so as to ensure its proper role in overseeing the sound and prudent management of public revenues and expenditures approved in the Budget
• We will strengthen the capacities, allocate the appropriate resources and ensure the autonomy of the offices of the Auditor General, the Contractor General, the Ombudsman, and the Integrity Commission to better fulfill their technical mandates and provide the appropriate support to the oversight responsibilities of the Public Accounts Committee and other oversight committees

• We will immediately sign, ratify and fully adhere to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), and will access the excellent guidelines, technical assistance and resources provided to signatory We have to at long last join the rest of the countries of the world in becoming compliant. If that Convention could have led to the imprisonment of the Guatemalan President and Vice-President on charges of corruption, then that’s a Convention we should ratify. It is far more expensive not to sign the UN Convention on Anti-Corruption than it is to sign it. For every dollar siphoned dishonestly from the government’s coffers is a dollar less that we have to support the disadvantaged and dispossessed in our country and a dollar less to create full employment.

• We will take immediate steps to restore the autonomy of the Public Service (establish clear boundaries between the political directorate and the public service) and Public Service Commission to re-establish integrity and impartiality in the recruiting, training, evaluating and disciplining processes, and
• We will introduce the necessary legislation with appropriate measures to protect whistle blowers and witnesses involved in corruption cases and to increase the penalties for acts of corruption and public authority
• The PUP will revert to having Permanent Secretaries (Senior Career Public Officers) as the accounting officers of the specific Ministry/Ministries.

To ensure that the Social Security Board (SSB) is embraced as an institution performing in the best interest of its beneficiaries while contributing to the national development:

The PUP will reconfigure the SSB Board of Directors to reflect the expectations of the people. A Board Member representing the Churches will be added to the present Board. The Chairman remains appointed by the Government and would have a casting vote. The Chief Executive Officer is an ex-officio member without a right to vote. The Board Secretary is an employee of the Social Security Board. The Board elects one of its members to be Deputy Chairman. The initial term of office of the Chairman is for a period of five years, and three years in the case of all members. (S.I. No. 16 of 2003)

Social Security must be involved in the Health and Productivity of the nation and should be involved in the expansion of the National Health Insurance and Public Hospitals.

Encourage the social partners to clearly spell out the democratic process to appoint and/or elect members to serve on statutory bodies and other governmental boards.

A PUP Government will ensure that all the necessary resources are invested in providing adequate security for all This includes improving the capacity of the Police Department and creating the necessary synergies between the Police Department and the office of the DPP.

• We will promote and support programs on civic education and civic responsibility in our educational system and across our country to strengthen participation of all stakeholders and the general public in policy advocacy, development and other important issues, such as major infrastructural investments, the Guatemalan claim and Article 51 of the Constitution, with the aim of optimizing citizen competence, electoral choices and value-for-money decisions.
• In our first term the PUP will engage in a public education campaign on governance in order to inform our citizens on the various forms of If Belizeans believe that we should change our system of government in any way then a referendum will held.