The Integrity Legislation (draft) promised by the Democratic Labour Party government is listed on the Barbados Parliament website to be debated soon. It is a 157 page document, look forward to feedback from the BU family.
See link to Prevention of Corruption Bill 2010
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It seems rather curious that after HH column Thursday and after talk about a change of BLP leadership on Monday – the DLP is moving immediately to bring a prevention of corruption bill.
Is the political campaign for the next election being shaped now.
Who will lead this debate for the BLP – Pain or Arthur or Mia Mottley?
I am so sorry PM Thompson is ill, it would have been fireworks but Stuart is still there so fear not.
The house is due to resume its sitting on Tuesday. There must be great expectation given what is unraveling on both sides.
Will someone be locked up?
@JC
This legislation will be about drawing a line in the sand. The DLP used the corruption card very well last election.
Will this Bill be retroactive, say to 1999, or will it have a commencement date in 2010.
I feel it should be retroactive at least to 2000.
A casual glance of Articles 49 and 50 suggest that any stashes in overseas accounts will be found.
@David. This is a good start and an excellent basis. Obviously, there will be amendments from time to time (frequently), but it is very tightly and well drafted. I think you and BU need to take a bow for never letting up on giving focus to the call for this. I really don’t care which party introduced it, it was their job and duty to the electorate and I see no reason to congratulate the government for doing their duty. Nor are any thanks due to the government for simply doing what they are paid to do. One would hope that ALL MPs will endorse this legislation and not subject us to a whole lot of political posturing, simply because the Thompson government has done what the Arthur government should have done 15 years ago. This legislation is above politics. I hope the House will respect it as such.
@Amused
The job is not done. Many bills would have been debated in the past only to get tangled in amendments and then forgotten. The draft at first glance seems very comprehensive. It makes a mockery of the one page document which Mottley and Arthur proffered in the House purporting to be personal asset declarations.
Seems like elections will next next year (2011).
Yes but will this legislation be retroactive to say 2000.
If not this is a window of opportunity for all to get obese at the trough.
Shouldn’t it capture that $75,000 cheque
@David. I am not suggesting any amendments to the legislation as it stands. It ought to be passed as is. However, during the first years of implementation, the need for certain amendments will become obvious – and there are likely to be many of those. Those were the amendments I was mentioning. By the way, I sincerely doubt that there will be any attempt to make it retroactive. Retroactive would not work – I mean, how far retroactive, without it being seen as an attempt at political opportunism? Are you going to take it back to encompass the Sandiford time (DLP)? OR just to the Arthur administration (BLP)? So retroactive doesn’t work for me at all. Not at all sure that you could make it retroactive even if you wanted to.
The fact is that it is a tight, well constructed and thought out bill ready to be passed into law as it stands. Amendments can always be made as need arises. And, given the rubbish produced by the Arthur government, well, I hope it gets through as soon as possible just in case there is a change of administration.
I have only one question, and Terrence Blackett (and many other members of the BU family) will understand. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
In these days where most business transactions are recorded by recording telephone calls and have a central e-mail storage facility…….. But, it is a comprehensive and excellent start.
@Amused
Agree with you that to make this Bill retroactive is not practical.
Your other concern, who will guard the guard is apt. In Barbados we have had a terrible record at self-censorship. We have also had a poor run at enforcement. A new dispensation is required, a new culture, can we do it? Will we be willing to lock up the hitherto protected ones?
@ David
Can we now have this without campaign finance reform. Will that be moved in before the next election
@Bajan Panday
Don’t get greedy, this bill has to be enacted as well as FOI is to come. These are bills which were promised and speaks directly to the DLP being elected.
If you examine Section 17 (1) of the proposed Bill you will see contributions to contesting political parties must be declared to the Commission.
Who will keep the keepers, themselves?
Or
Who will watch the watchers, themselves?
@Adrian
Gearing for the next election is an automatic thought anyway, we are only 2 years away under normal* circumstances.
CHECK SECTION 12!
Integrity Legislation is fine but more important is a cultural change, a blind eye is “constantly” being turned to dishonest practices; so much so that those who try to be upright and honest are sometimes perceived as fools.
Part 2
Prevention of Corruption Commission
4. (6) Where a public official or a person on his behalf, is suspected of being in possession of property disproportionate to his legitimate source of income, the Commission may conduct an enquiry into the acquisition of that property.
Very, very interesting!
@Yardbroom
Trust your eagle eye to dwell on such…lol.
Now if we had this legislation in place that famous incident which occurred between David Ellis and Barney Lynch would be an insignificant event.
Is this corruption?:
On Sunday, St James North MP Rawle Eastmond revealed that he had discovered a plot, originating outside his constituency, to send 56 delegates to the annual conference, ostensibly to represent his branch, but without the knowledge or authority of his executive.
In a letter sent to BLP general secretary Cynthia Forde on October 6, Eastmond revealed that none of the so-called delegates originally submitted to her had ever been to any of his branch’s monthly meetings. He indicated then that his branch had not even met to choose delegates for the conference.
http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/branch-denies-any-part-in-plot/
I am so happy that this government has at last got around to this type of legislation. They receive a lot of licks for not introducing it earlier but at least they kept their promise.
The DLP must not stop there. A strong non partisan regulatory body must be put in place with no nonsense persons who would lock up their mothers if they got involved in corruption.
All the BLP money grabbers who are yearning to return to those statutory boards must be very frustrated on hearing about this legislation.
I am encouraged by the DLP; you are doing an excellent job. Keep working while Owen decimates Mia on Monday.
He is in for the biggest shock in his life. From day one he will be battling with Mia and Rawle Eastmond. He will age faster as the DLP rub salt in the wounds that will be created. He will deserve it.
Some of the business community who are pushing him are some of the biggest frauds around. The quicker we get rid of him and them the better for Barbados.
Anybody see Henderson Bovell?
@ David
The devil is in the detail. . you are on form tonight so “quick” to join up the dots.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69D5UM20101014
EARTH CALLING GREEN MONKEY, TECHIE and MINIATURE ENGINEER
Small, velly small article on court awarding 9-11 workers for injury … Anyone no details of case and why US Government put aside billion dollar of new print money to pay more worker on site. Anyone know why case so secret? Anyone know type of injury of worker? Why ALL these people sick from work on site??? Miniature Engineer please comment … no no to thermite, but must view Dimitri Khalezov video no?
DAVID YOU MUST MAKE THIS SEPARATE TOPIC NO?
http://factsnotfairies.blogspot.com/
http://nuclear-demolition-wikipedia.com/
What War on What Terror … O Dear no? International Integrity Legislation needed no?
EARTH CALLING HOPI, person that no wear panty no?
@David. You know, the impact of this legislation is already starting to be felt in the off-shore financial sector. I actually consider it so important that I would say that it is one of the most important pieces of legislation ever brought in Barbados. It dismisses forever and makes an ass of the derogatory blogs that have beseiged Barbados with their venom and envy. That it is 15 to 20 years late is unfortunate. But better late than never and it has the potential to change our society for the better, as long as the guardians themselves are guarded. And there are a few members of the Barbados Bar (and I DON’T mean Leslie Haynes) who would be perfect to serve on such a commission. I will provide you privately with a list – some of them retired judges and justices of appeal – let us see if the implementation is going to be as formidable and laudable as the Bill itself.
@ Amused | October 15, 2010 at 3:18 PM |
“@David. This is a good start and an excellent basis. Obviously, there will be amendments from time to time (frequently), but it is very tightly and well drafted. I think you and BU need to take a bow for never letting up on giving focus to the call for this. I really don’t care which party introduced it, it was their job and duty to the electorate and I see no reason to congratulate the government for doing their duty. Nor are any thanks due to the government for simply doing what they are paid to do. One would hope that ALL MPs will endorse this legislation and not subject us to a whole lot of political posturing, simply because the Thompson government has done what the Arthur government should have done 15 years ago. This legislation is above politics. I hope the House will respect it as such.”
I recall an occasion, more than 30 years ago (the memory that it was a Saturday morning seems to resonate!), when I was a young Permanent Secretary, participating in a discussion among my colleagues about the desirability of law and practice requiring the declaration of assets. I seem to recall that the proposal for the introduction of such enactments was an initiative of Sir Henry Forde, who served as Attorney General in the BLP Government of 1976-1981.
During the course of the discussion, I brashly, observed that including senior civil servants in such declarations might have the effect of holding them up to public ridicule for having accumulated so little in the course of a long and disultory career! And that was before Barbados was lured away from probity by bubbles, bangles and beads!
Many of the commentators on this blog seem to be running the risk of making the “perfect” become the enemy of the “good”. I had the opportunity to undertake a comparative examination of the role of integrity legislation in improving governance in a number of jurisdictions, and I was not amused by my discoveries. I felt that in many instances the results showed a lack of care by the framers of the legislation of not being sufficiently careful about what they wished for.
I think that the Government is to be commended on fulfilling its “comforts to fools”, but I am minded of the words of St. Paul:
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death”. [Romans 8, v.2, The Holy Bible, NRSV],
And after we have had our full dose of integrity legislation, I wonder how much the quality of life on this Rock will have improved!
I am not one to rain on a Parade but the Commission will report – after detailed examination and inquiries no doubt – its findings to the DPP for a legal opinion, with regard to possible prosecution.
If the Commission is of the strong opinion a prosecution is warrented and the DPP is hesitant for what ever reason. . . he will no doubt seek a second opinion, it is the authority and integrity of that opinion which will determine the possible direction of the “tough”, some might say contentious” cases.
@Yardbroom
It would seem suspect if Commissioners of 15 years or more make a recommendation to prosecute and the DDP were to be of another opinion. It would lead to an untenable position.
@ David
Oh yes! it would seem suspect, but many things “now are”, we need men/women of integrity in “strategic places” to drive cases through. . . of course where there is evidence.
@ David,
The Commissioner cannot RECOMMEND prosecution to the DPP; the DPP has the constitutional final say on whether most, though not all, criminal matters are prosecuted or not in Barbados.
Further, retroactive application of the law is not at all constitutionally possible in this context. See section 18(4) of the Constitution.
As to whom should guard the guards; note that the members of the Commission also have to declare their assets.
@Jeff
Thanks Jeff, recommend* is used loosely as in the Commissioners handing over the file to the DPP.
Would it not have made sense to include the DPP in this legislation given that there is a potential worry point after the Commission does its work and possible prosecution?
IS THIS CORRUPTION:?
And in another turn of events, a member of the BLP’s Women’s League revealed that a list of 210 delegates had been sent in to the general secretary although the women’s arm had not met officially to choose delegates. She said the concerns were similar to those highlighted by Eastmond……
When asked if the delegates were “officially selected”, Parris reiterated that the executive “met and agreed” on a number of delegates. She said she would not comment on the term “officially selected”
http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/move-on-george/
IN WHOSE NAME AND INTEREST IS THIS CORRUPTION BEING DONE?
As long as there is a Freedom of Information Act with this legislation, the public will be the gatekeepers.
Now we will see if Barbados has Professional Journalists or just news reporters.
@Hants. Point taken and, to a certain extent, agreed. But it is far more complicated than that, unfortunately. As for journalists, well pigs might fly.
It has been reported:
” A member of the BLP’s Women’s League revealed that a list of 210 delegates had been sent in to the General Secretary”…
The Women’s League of the BLP has many members is it the case that as soon as one member speaks we should get in a tizz. . . what is her title, with what authority does she speak?
Spin is being employed here, pad up, bat held aloft and watch the ineffective ball thud into the keeper’s gloves.
@ David @9:22
Sorry, but I lost my internet connection for most of the forenoon…There is no need to expressly include the DPP. A prosecution may only occur without his fiat in limited instances. Once the information is sent to the DPP, he or she decides the next step.
“210 delegates had been sent in to the general secretary although the women’s arm had not met officially to choose delegates.”
IS THIS CORRUPTION AND WHO IS GOING TO BOTHER TO ADDRESS IT OR SEEK TO STAMP IT OUT?
@ David
Verily I say unto you …
Any thought given to the request made by the earlier person using this handle …?
@BAFBFP
We have flogged the 911 topic don’t you think? How about if one of the old topics is brought back to the frontpage?
Conservative chairman Baroness Warsi on her claims of electoral fraud that could have changed the result of at least three seats at the 2010 general election.
She said people should be able to have faith in the electoral system and said it was important to “clean this up” when she spoke to the Politics Show’s Jon Sopel.
Baroness Warsi has failed to identify specific incidents, if she could a prosecution would be brought after a proper investigation. She has refused to offer any” evidence”.
“In a letter sent to BLP general secretary Cynthia Forde on October 6, Eastmond revealed that none of the so-called delegates originally submitted to her had ever been to any of his branch’s monthly meetings. He indicated then that his branch had not even met to choose delegates for the conference.”
“210 delegates had been sent in to the general secretary although the women’s arm had not met officially to choose delegates.”
Clearly Yardbroom, this is the same corruption that PM Thompson warned about in 2008.
That’s why the Prevention of Corruption Bill is so timely. One thing you can say for sure is that the DLP seems to be against corruption.
Is the BLP soft on corruption? All eyes are now on the BLP.
It is clear from today’s Nation Newspaper and lasy week’s Sunday Sun – where the corruption tail in the BLP seems to be leading and who seems to have the somoking gun.
Pardon me!
It seems clear from today’s Nation Newspaper and LAST week’s Sunday Sun – where the corruption TRAIL in the BLP seems to be leading and who seems to have the somoking gun.
@ David
Verily I say unto you
Should I not be concerned that we have flogged the DLP BLP topic as well? Should there not be continuing reason for exposing top end criminality which affects the lives of everyone in the world? Do you think that returning an old article to the front page will do justice to the fact that for the first time in plain daylight, there is proof positive of what was previously considered conjecture bordering lunacy? Do you not think that now for the first time the MME debunker will be forced to eat humble pie in public? Are you afraid of the topic or the fact that you too might run a foul of the WordPress people?
Is Corruption Good or Bad?
By SouthAsian
A college student has asked us if corruption is good or bad. The proposition he has been asked to consider is the following:
Corruption greases the wheels of development; it benefits the rich and poor alike.
This proposition is very easy to disprove by thinking of concrete examples where corruption does not benefit the rich and poor alike.
Let us take examples from the recent earthquakes in Kashmir and China. Many school buildings collapsed killing thousands of children. The Chinese government has admitted there was corruption in the construction of the buildings. Second-rate material was used but approved by supervisors in exchange for bribes.
In this case rich contractors and bureaucrats benefited but poor public school students and their parents paid the ultimate price.
This example shows that whenever corruption creates hazardous conditions, it does not benefit rich and poor alike. The sale of contaminated infant milk in China and the sale of spurious medicines in Pakistan are other similar examples.
http://thesouthasianidea.wordpress.com/2008/09/23/is-corruption-good-or-bad/
Persad-Bissessar told Trinidad and Tobago nationals in London that corruption will not be tolerated in the Government, and said anyone who fails to perform would be fired.
“I intend to lead a government that leads a country that places a high value on accountability and transparency,” Persad-Bissessar is reported to have said. “We will act decisively to root out corruption at all levels.” Persad-Bissessar arrived in London yesterday to attend a meeting of the Commonwealth Economic Partnerships Forum which starts today and ends tomorrow.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,129024.html
WHO WILL GIVE OVERSEAS BARBADIANS THAT ASSURANCE ON BEHALF OF THE BLP.
At least the ‘Prevention of Corruption Bill’ sends that clear signal on behalf of the DLP.
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Thanx
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