BLP promises new integrity legislation
The Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) is promising to enact new integrity legislation if it forms the next Government.
The disclosure came during a press conference in the Leader of the Opposition’s Office at Parliament yesterday morning. Addressing the media, Shadow Attorney General and Member of Parliament (MP) for St. Joseph, Dale Marshall, said so serious is the BLP about having such legislation in place, that it has already drafted the Integrity Commission Bill which it has made available on its Facebook page and website.
That Act, he indicated, will seek to address corruption in this country which he said appears to be an “unprecedented level” and will be laid in Parliament on the first business day under a BLP Government. With that in mind, he noted that within the Bill are stiff penalties for those who engage in corrupt practices. These include fines of up to $500 000, imprisonment as well as the seizure of assets gained through corruption.
Marshall was adamant about the importance of having integrity legislation in this country, as he pointed out that though the present Government was successful in having the Prevention of Corruption Act passed in Parliament, and it did receive the assent of the Governor General, then Sir Elliott Belgrave on December 18, 2012, almost five years later it is yet to be proclaimed. His comments came as he maintained that integrity legislation is needed, as there are often whispers about corruption, but without the proper framework in place people are fearful of coming forward, for fear of victimisation and not being supported.
“Corruption is not something to be whispered in dark corridors, it must be rooted out of our society. It not only affects our way of life and our moral underpinning, but it also costs the Barbadian economy untold millions in inflated contract costs every year, and it also affects our country’s competitiveness and our reputation,” he said.
The draft bill, which he noted is at a fairly advanced stage, and was formulated with the assistance of former Chief Justice Sir David Simmons and attorneys Leslie Haynes QC, Stewart Mottley and Gregory Nicholls, will for the first time in this country, provide protection for whistleblowers. He indicated that this is an important feature of the legislation, contending that to encourage people to speak out against corruption they know about is vital. Marshall, a former attorney general, said it is imperative that there is protection within the law to ensure that those persons cannot be victimised. He explained that the communications that will be made to the Commission by the whistleblowers will be confidential and to prevent possible backlash once the identity of the whistleblower is revealed, he said there will be criminal penalties if that individual is disadvantaged in any way.
“We cannot see how modern legislation can exist without the protection of whistleblowers. It is almost a standard thing all across the globe in terms of integrity legislation and sunshine laws and it was a glaring deficiency in our existing Act,” the St. Joseph MP said.
Adding to his comments, the BLP candidate for Christ Church South, attorney-at-law, Ralph Thorne indicated that under the BLP’s draft bill, the Commission is to consist of six persons. These include a chartered or certified accountant with at least ten years experience; a judge – either sitting or retired; an attorney-at-law with at least ten years experience and a member of the clergy. He stated that the final two members will be appointed by the Governor General, one on the advice of the Prime Minister and the other on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition.
The BLP is encouraging Barbadians to offer comments on the draft bill and Marshall said their comments will be reviewed and where possible fed into the final document. (JRT)