Budgetary transparency: Political willingness is all that’s needed

Suddenly the ruling socialist regime of President Michel has discovered a new buzz word, ‘National Security.’ The country has seen its fair share of odd Government’s manoeuvres to hide information from the public, but few are as bizarre as using the excuse of national security. 

This week I attended the International Monetary Fund (IMF) press conference where the organisation’s Chief of Mission, Carol Baker, the Minister of Finance, Pierre Laporte and the Governor of the Central Bank, Caroline Abel, were in attendance to answer the local media questions. 

I specifically wanted to know what the Government was doing to disclose all relevant information about the national budget since the IMF is urging them to show more budget transparency?

Minister Laporte replied by saying: “We must understand that all governments in all countries have certain information which they cannot reveal. But I can give you my commitment that as the years go by we are trying to see how we can operate in a more transparent manner and we will see if the law permits us to give more budgetary information which will not necessarily put the country’s security at risk.” 

His answer leaves open questions about how serious the Michel Administration is in promoting budget transparency. Budget transparency is a precondition for public participation in budget processes. The process is defined as the full disclosure of all relevant fiscal information in a timely and systematic manner.

To date only Members of the National Assembly and key officials from the Ministry of Finance have access to the budget document which is marked as ‘confidential’. Should the allocations of taxpayers’ money be subjected to full public disclosure?  A budget document for example should be left at the National Library for all interested parties to consult at their own leisure.

The combination of Budget transparency, public participation in budget processes and media scrutiny has the potential to combat corruption, foster public accountability of government agencies and contribute to judicious use of public funds. Local civil society movements should also start agitating for improved transparency in the budget processes.

No law or any buzz words like ‘national security’ should bar the media or the public from getting access to what is rightfully owned by the public. What we need is the rejection of secrecy as a means of control and simple political willingness in making it happen.  It is time we have an honest Government instead of one which is finding every excuses to hide the truth.