Vexed Bermoothes

When government functions in secret, it becomes tempting to make decisions that would never be adopted in the full light of public scrutiny.

And inevitably, someone on the inside – perhaps knowing that the process was incorrect or having a personal agenda – will leak the documents. This causes either embarrassment for the Government or a flurry of coverup activity – all wasted energy.

• Witness the extreme measures taken to halt the publication of documents from the truncated investigation into official corruption at BHC;
• Witness the unseemly tangle over Minister Scott’s notes of the secretive “Saturday Group” which seemed to show constant political interference at the Hospital; and
• Witness how foolish Mayor Madeiros looks when his public statements regarding the closed meetings of the Corporation of Hamilton appear untruthful when documents are later leaked.

This is no way to run a government. By adopting additional open government laws (the PLP already introduced the Ombudsman’s office) reinforcing public access to information and open meetings, our Government will be able to focus on making laws and policy that have broad public support – instead of fighting the constant brush fires caused by their furtiveness.

Many in Government feel that their “closed” policy setting will allow them to move faster and with less opposition to their political, social, or administrative agenda. That is not true – public input will come either constructively or via leaks that force a correction of decision or process.

Why not do it right the first time?