IT'S OUR RIGHT TO KNOW.#STAY VIGILANT.Openness and Transparency is key to holding public officials and government representatives accountable. Openness and Transparency depends on the critical element of access: the people's right to know the process of governmental decision-making and to review the documents and statistics leading to these determinations.
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In recent events, governmental boards, commissions, and public officials have expressed the lack of understanding of the Open Government Law and the Sunshine Reform Act or demonstrated a willful disregard of these laws. Access to such information should not be thwarted by shrouding it with the cloak of secrecy or confidentiality.
A government that chooses working in secrecy over healthy scrutiny engenders waste and corruption, damages the concept of checks and balances, and loses the trust of its citizens. It is our idea that public officials and government representatives serve the people of Guam with the best of intentions to do good for our community. |
RESULTS FOR THE
"NON-PARTISAN SURVEY PROMOTING
OPENNESS & TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT."
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vigilance Committee recognized the operational changes and challenges faced by public officials and government representatives of the government of Guam. However, increasing expectations to know the decision-making of the government involving services and expenditures of funds have drawn sharp criticism by the public. In an effort to promote openness and transparency in government, the Vigilance Committee released a non-partisan survey to all senatorial candidates regarding their agenda for openness and transparency in government.
The publication deadline for senatorial candidates to respond to the survey was Friday, October 09, 2020 at 5:00 PM. All responses provided by the candidate have been published verbatim. If a candidate did not respond to the survey or a specific question, the publication will state “Did Not Respond” next to the candidate name. Out of 29-senatorial candidates 18-candidates responded to the non-partisan survey promoting openness and transparency in government.
The Vigilance Committee would like to thank every candidate who participated in our survey and who has committed to openness and transparency in government.
The publication deadline for senatorial candidates to respond to the survey was Friday, October 09, 2020 at 5:00 PM. All responses provided by the candidate have been published verbatim. If a candidate did not respond to the survey or a specific question, the publication will state “Did Not Respond” next to the candidate name. Out of 29-senatorial candidates 18-candidates responded to the non-partisan survey promoting openness and transparency in government.
The Vigilance Committee would like to thank every candidate who participated in our survey and who has committed to openness and transparency in government.
| NON-PARTISAN SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE |
1.) Does our government do the right thing when it comes to openness and transparency?
2.) When was the last time you were concerned about transparency with our government?
3.) What have you, personally, done to ensure openness and transparency in our government?
4.) How will you ensure transparency is upheld in the disclosure of public records for unclassified, limited term appointment, temporary appointment, contractual or exempt personnel of the government of Guam?
5.) How will you require every Board or Commission to publicly disclose their actions prior to their final decisions?
6.) How will you ensure advisory committees, such as the Physician Advisory Council, adhere to the Open Government Law or observe the rudimentary principles and requirements of every deliberative body?
7.) When any governor declares a State of Public Health Emergency, how will you ensure the Open Government Law and the Sunshine Law remain whole and a priority in government?
The Vigilance Committee issues a clarion call to multiply efforts to promote ways to improve the public’s right to know by requiring compliance with the Open Government Law and the Sunshine Reform Act by public officials and government representatives to ensure a responsible and responsive government for the people of Guam.
THE SMOKE DETECTOR
WHERE THERE'S SMOKE THERE'S FIRE
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