Transparency
Harry Morskate | 21 Fevrier 2010
Transparency in politics indicates an openness in the process of decision making within a governing body, such as a municipality. Transparency is always necessary and a prerequisite for equal opportunities and legality

Where transparency is lacking, there is the risk of corruption and conflict of major interests. Even if there is no corruption or conflicts of interests there is a lack of transparency in the integrity of the governance in the proceedings. This must be avoided in all cases, and therefore transparency is a prerequisite for public administration, national and local government.

Corruption is the symptom of a bad economic situation, a bad government. It is at the expense of the poor and honest people and favours criminals. It damages one of the foundations of democracy and public policy, namely that everyone has the same rights.

Interests entanglement indicates a situation where multiple interests are in the hand of someone who can exert such influence on either side that the integrity of one or the other interests or party can be compromised. This is particularly relevant in business, professions where a high degree of integrity may be expected. Examples lie in the importance of a fair and honest justice, political representation, and various other forms of representation

Even if there is no evidence of actual influence on the interests of one or the other party, there may well exist intertwining interests. Interests entanglement can affect the function and the credibility of one person.		 In our community there is a total lack of transparency. Where someone feels penalized by the municipality, the words corruption or conflict of interests immediately comes to mind. That may not be true at all, but simply it cannot be refuted by the lack of transparency. This is a serious problem for all concerned.

An illustration of this lack of transparency is being provided by the fact that is seems that the Municipal Council adopts many decisions unanimously. We can find no contradictory arguments on the various subjects discussed in the local council reports.The fact that nothing comes out into the municipal reports, without the express permission of the mayor, reinforces the lack of transparency further.

Even more worrying is that people who do talk about the fact that they have been victims of alleged corruption or conflict of interest, take no action at all and so it seems that this is a normal situation to be accepted.

It is therefore very necessary that there is a public policy, a published budget and an urban or land use plan; that the secretary is allowed to publish the minutes of the deliberations in the Municipal Council has they are and without 'censorship'; and that all mail to and from the municipality is made available to the counsellors. The correct procedures must be followed in dealing with building permits and applications and the decisions published when they come.

Then only can the appearance of corruption and conflicts of interests disappear and be prevented and the citizens can rely on the ethical commitment of its representatives.
     
La commune de DIO ET VALQUIÈRES, située dans le département de l'HERAULT, au pied des Cévennes, réunie trois hameaux DIO, VALQUIÈRES et VERNAZOUBRES, d'une importance quasi égale, et abrite 139 habitants sur une superficie de 1.877 hectares. La Gazette de Dio et Valquières est une initiative de citoyens concernés qui surveillent de façon critique la politique municipale.
Gazette de Dio et Valquières