We’ll meet the challenge

I am pleased to announce my intent to meet the challenge of calls for change and allow the people to have a say over their future. As the Leader of the Democratic Party, I shall be encouraging all our team members to listen to what the public wants and to engage and consult with them on how to improve our democratic processes of governing. This is the time for inclusiveness, not division and standoff attitudes. This is the time to hear the people’s voices. I am positive about our future and I believe there is much to be shared with a revitalized vision of how we will improve the administration of the country.
From the outset, it is clear that both the government and the public are frustrated by the lack of direction of the current efforts on this matter. There is a collective responsibility to put things on the right track and we are vying to do just that. The Democratic Party for example, will ground its efforts in the fundamentals of better practices. I am fully supportive of getting back to basics. Doing the right things and getting results. Providing people with the necessary tools and enabling our communities to get ahead with the right levels of help and guidance. After all, Government is not in the business of getting into business. We ought not to overwhelm our people’s efforts and desires but to empower them to generate benefits and realize their goals.
A fresh perspective is called for. I feel for those who are struggling to cope today but I am pleased to say that we are sincere about installing a new approach. And it will be better informed by the needs of the people. We understand that private enterprise has an important role to play in the growth of our economy and the need for mutual cooperation between private enterprise and government is essential. Our incoming administration will allow for that framework at the earliest opportunity. The test on the new energy of our team will be welcomed.
To add value to the voice of the people in the calls for improving our governing processes, I will propose that my administration be first to take on the initiative of a Code of Conduct for Parliamentarians. While not a new idea, this responsibility will honour my intent to promote improved levels of accountability and ethics, in my own arena first. This is an achievable goal based on an enactment in Parliament and a further demonstration of how far we are prepared to meet the challenges ahead.

Hon. Robert Wigmore
Leader of the Democratic Party and Deputy Prime Minister

Herald Issue 463 10 June
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