The government hopes to strengthen local institutions and oversight bodies to fight corruption but improving connectivity among citizens is seen as a challenge that requires much focus, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira said Tuesday.
Teixeira, while offering remarks at the opening session of an anti-corruption training workshop, said that social media and other technological advancements have aided transparency and accountability efforts.
These mechanisms allow more people to be informed of what bodies and individuals are doing, essentially facilitating greater scrutiny.
Livestreaming parliamentary proceedings is an example of how technology has aided transparency and accountability efforts, she said posited. Similar advancements, such as virtual court hearings were initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic and have continued to date.
Even with these advances though, Minister Teixeira said that other concerns have emerged- chief among which is the issue of people’s access because of connectivity challenges.
“It is a process that has to go forward and has to be developed as we go along and where we have to deal with the other platform, connectivity and ensuring that connectivity across the country,” the Governance Minister underscored.
Later, she added, “… that’s a process we’re working on because that’s how people get information.
“If they are given accurate information, they are more able to make decisions with regards to their lives.”
As the government moves to ensure that more people, particularly those in rural and hinterland communities, are connected, the minister said that efforts are underway to strengthen oversight bodies and institutions.
As such, private sector players, civil society bodies and numerous government agencies are part of the two-day training workshop hosted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre at Liliendaal, Georgetown.
