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The Opposition People's National Party (PNP) has pledged to revise processes and procedures for the contracting and procurement of goods and services for major state-sponsored events such as Grand Gala.

PNP spokesperson on Culture and Creative Industries Dr Deborah Hickling Gordon said the current system lacks transparency and does not guarantee value for money. She said the PNP will implement far-reaching changes if it forms the government after the next general election.

"A competitive process, including a request for proposals, both creative and financial, will be issued in the year prior to the gala," Hickling Gordon said. "This will allow for transparency, increase planned preparation, and prevent the rush of the last-minute preparations that are reported each year".

She said the process will also include a caveat to ensure that the intellectual properties of teams submitting proposals are protected.

"The fear and risk of submitting ideas that are assumed without compensation has remained a fear of creative practitioners for many years," Hickling Gordon said.

The PNP yesterday called for Culture Minister Olivia Grange to disclose the full budgeted and projected costs associated with the 2025 Independence celebrations. Hickling Gordon said that in light of this being an election year, and with the minister's announcement that parish galas will be held across the country, the public has a right to know how their tax dollars are being spent.

"The PNP fully supports the celebration of our nation's Independence and join with the nation in recognising the importance of national unity and cultural expression," Hickling Gordon said.

However, she argued that "transparency and accountability must not be sacrificed to this end".

"As a nation of independent people, we should be moving our sector in this direction," Hickling Gordon said.