by Kristen Ku

BELIZE CITY, Mon. Aug. 14, 2023

The Organization of Latin American and Caribbean Supreme Audit Institutions (OLACEFS) is enhancing its collaboration with the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) in Belize. This joint venture, entitled Make Citizens Count, seeks to strengthen the region’s commitment against corruption by prioritizing the voices and opinions of its citizens.

Maria Rodriguez, the Deputy Auditor General, explained the project’s objectives during an interview with Kremandala reporters. “The project is actually to make citizens’ voices count. We are here to invite everybody. The project is inviting all citizens to come and express their priorities of accountability and transparency in the government. And how the Auditor General can make their voice count,” Rodriguez stated.

Rodriguez is responsible for inspecting the financial dealings of government sectors. She’s also required to assist in compiling and delivering an annual report to Belize’s National Assembly.

However, in an effort to incorporate actual citizen participation, the project will be rolling out comprehensive consultation sessions countrywide, commencing in Corozal. From there, it will branch out to areas like Orange Walk, Dangriga, Belmopan, and Belize City, culminating in San Ignacio.

Lending his expertise to this project is consultant Andres Navia from Citizens Action Colombia. Having observed the rollout of similar projects in Colombia, Navia shared, “Columbia has been working on this for 25 years and building this citizen awareness in that they can have a voice. It takes time, unfortunately, but it’s starting to work.”

“It’s the citizen in the smaller communities, the less advantaged citizens that this project focuses on. The whole idea is to have an organized dialogue and have people set priorities, and also in terms of choosing options that are better for them, that they expect and hope that are better for them to have citizen participation in public finances,” he said.

YaYa Marin Coleman, an activist with prior associations with the OAG, also offered her insights.

“Oftentimes, the genuine voices of the majority of working people in Belize are not heard or respected. It’s not enough to show up! Bringing a recorder, paper, and pen, sharing the live stream link, talking about what matters to people after these community discussions, and holding ourselves and the state accountable consistently is critical to contribute to a just and healthier Belize,” Coleman emphasized, referencing her popular phrase: #onlidipeeplewillsavedipeeple.

In an effort to maximize reach and inclusivity, a specialized portal will be launched on the OAG’s website at the following address: https://www.makingcitizenscount.org/.

This platform is designed to facilitate seamless communication between the government and its citizens.

“The portal will be open for us to listen to the citizens, for us to know where they feel a bit cheated maybe, and perhaps they want to see improvements. That’s the only way we can hear from them, because we do not have a direct link to the citizens, especially because of our restrictions and regulations and how we communicate with the media and with the general public as a whole,” Navia expanded.

With Belize’s participation, it now joins approximately 12 other nations that have already begun the program under OLACEFS.