It is being called a "historic milestone" - and that's the joint declaration of Social Partners of Belize - bringing together the labour movement, the NGO movement and the business sector.
This morning the NTUCB, the Chamber of Commerce and the Belize Network of NGO's got together at an undisclosed location, streamed it via Facebook, didn't invite the press to ask questions, yet demanded a higher level of transparency and accountability from governments - present and future.
The presenters said that the declaration is about demanding good governance:
Marvin Mora, President - NTUCB
"For many years, Belizeans as a whole have bene complaining about the issues surrounding he government of Belize under both administrations. and we understand the role that we are required to play in order for us to have a good, democratic governance system that will serve all and not just those with special interests in our country."
"You can no longer expect that the politicians that you elect every year will yield the results that you and I so desire, because we have tried that, for over decades, consistently and we have failed consistently, therefore this is the way because only the people will save the people."
Ms. Marissa Longsworth, President - BCCI
"We have focussed on the unassailable pursuit of good governance which obviously transcends short term issues, election cycles, politics and most recently, even, the COVID pandemic."
"This declaration signals the pubic start of our intended activities over several years to come. The BCCI views this as a long term commitment where no effort will be spared and no step should be underestimated for its impact on and shaping of the future of governance in Belize."
Froyla Tzalam, Chair, Steering Cmte. BNN
"We have tried over the decades to come here. We cannot wait any longer, behavioural change will take generations and so we are going to come up with strategies that we hope will be far more effective than other efforts have been in the past."
The two page agreement they signed speaks specifically to accountability from oversight bodies and insulation from political control - to strengthen Belize's democracy.
Here are some of the points that caught our attention.
Marvin Mora, President - NTUCB
"Recognizing that for approximately two decades, successive government administrations have failed to institute the necessary reforms that would guarantee oversight institutions their true independence, which is defined as institutions that are adequately resourced and insulated from the control of the Executive Branch; Recalling that the oversight institutions referenced above include, but are not limited to, the Integrity Commission, electoral management bodies, the Office of the Contractor General, the Office of the Auditor General, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the Office of the Ombudsman, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Law Enforcement Agencies, and the Judiciary;"
Hon. Osmany Salas, NGO Senator
"Utilize the available legal recourses to bring about effective campaign finance and political parties' registration laws as urgently as possible, in the absence of any effectual effort by the members of the House of Representatives to institute the same;"
We later learned that the signing was held at the Belize Audubon Society Conference Room.
