In a public note dated July 6, 2024, the party “Fanmi Lavalas” confirms that the current Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communications, Mr. Raphaël Hosty, is the only person recommended by the party within the Transitional power to date.
He took the opportunity to ask the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) and Prime Minister Garry Conille for transparency in the appointments that these two entities are preparing to announce this week.
« for the transition to lead to good elections, first of all we have to have good security, and secondly we have to cut anger and corruption from today. «
It is not certain that this appeal from Jean Bertrand Aristide’s party will be heard.
However, here are the seven essential criteria for appointments in the public administration if we really want to prevent corruption:
1. **Transparency of the selection process:** Transparency is essential to ensure that the candidate selection process is fair and open to the public. This includes clearly publishing the selection criteria, the steps in the nomination process, and the members of the selection committee. Information about successful and unsuccessful candidates should also be publicly available, thereby increasing confidence in the integrity of the process.
2. **Merit-based criteria:** Appointment decisions must be based strictly on merit, taking into account the skills, qualifications and professional experience of candidates. This avoids political, personal or other considerations from unduly influencing decisions, thereby ensuring that the most qualified individuals occupy the appropriate positions.
3. **Background and Conflict of Interest Checks:** It is crucial to conduct thorough background checks on candidates to identify any potential conflicts of interest. This includes examining family, financial and professional ties that could compromise the objectivity or independence of public servants in carrying out their duties. Conflict of interest reporting processes must be rigorous and violations must be dealt with severely.
4. **Strict Codes of Conduct:** Establish robust codes of conduct and require strict adherence by all public officials. These codes should set high standards of ethical behavior, including clear guidelines on accepting gifts, handling confidential information, and preventing abuse of power. There should be sanctions for violations of these codes, which deters unethical behavior.
5. **Independence of oversight bodies:** It is essential that oversight bodies responsible for governance and appointments are independent of political power and external influences. This ensures impartial and objective oversight of appointment processes, as well as the ability to investigate any allegations of corruption or misconduct. Financial and operational autonomy is also necessary to ensure their effectiveness.
6. **Training in ethics and anti-corruption:** Provide continuous training in professional ethics, conflict of interest management and anti-corruption at all levels of public administration. This training strengthens the awareness of civil servants of the expected ethical standards and the consequences of corruption, while equipping them with the skills to resist external and internal pressures.
7. **Citizen Participation and Accountability:** Encourage citizen participation in the appointment process through public consultations, public hearings and other participatory mechanisms. These processes increase transparency and allow citizens to contribute to the evaluation of candidates. In addition, strengthening accountability mechanisms, such as independent audits and regular reporting on appointments, helps ensure that decisions are justified and that public funds are used responsibly.
By adopting these criteria and applying them rigorously, the CPT and the Conille Government can significantly reduce the risks of corruption in public administration appointments. This promotes transparent, efficient and accountable management, while preserving public confidence in the integrity of institutions and ensuring effective and accountable governance.
Similar articles
