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While all the excitement of the changes at the PLP's top has grabbed attention, another event slipped by, perhaps without the notice it deserved.

The UBP's public meeting on 'Good Governance' brought forward some worthwhile ways to improve our process of government.

According to reports, the UBP proposed that the public have the power to force binding referendums on the government.

Twenty-five per cent of registered voters could petition the government for a referendum on a specific issue. Such a petition would bind the government to hold a referendum, the result of which would also be binding on the government.

Such 'Citizen's Initiatives' are common in the U.S. and Switzerland and provide a powerful tool for direct public involvement in the process of government. This tool can also be used to remove political leaders who stray from public service.

Another proposal was a Code of Conduct for elected officials. I've always thought this was a good idea since the Bermuda Leadership Forum proposed it back in 2001. Elected officials should pledge their allegiance to a values-based code of behaviour and be held accountable to that code. I'm sure we'd all support legislation to regulate Integrity in Public Office.

Fiscal integrity, another welcome proposal, would include making Parliament's Public Accounts Committee open to the public and the press. Far too much of the spending of the public's money is hidden from the public's scrutiny.

Other UBP proposals included 'whistleblower's legislation to protect civil servants, a Freedom of Information Act and fixed-term elections. These are all progressive proposals to promote open, transparent and accountable governance. The public deserves no less from our leaders.

As is always the case of proposals by those in opposition, their ideas hold more in the power of their concept than of implementation. Who knows if the same group putting the ideas forward will even be re-elected, much less form the government.

And even if elected with enough numbers to take over the reins, there is nothing that binds them to take the actions once in government that they proposed while in opposition.

Still, I am impressed. These are proposals that address several of the shortcomings in Westminster as it is practised here.

Premier Brown hasn't asked my advice, but I'll offer it anyway. The UBP's proposals present several opportunities for taking governance to a 'new level'.

First, Premier Brown could break new ground by taking an opposition idea on board in a collaborative way. Not stealing the idea and claiming it as one's own but rather recognizing and acknowledging the idea's worth and inviting the opposition to join up in moving the ideas toward fruition.

That would force the opposition to yield political ownership of the idea and itself move to a new level.

Second, the ideas themselves have 'new level' merit. They could raise our political engagement from its current status. Members of the public are chomping at the bit to help shape policy, but not always wanting to become a part of the partisan dogfight that our politics have evolved into. These ideas enable participation based on ideas not on ideology.

Third, Premier Brown could really 'take it to the next level' by moving away from the Imperial Leadership that has become the trademark in so many western democracies.

It would be all too easy to assume the trappings of Empire that accompany an 'it's our turn now' mentality.

Premier Brown could take our notions of leadership to the next level by making 'humility in service to the people' the doctrine for his tenure. That's a level we all could be proud of.[[In-content Ad]]

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