To be quite honest, neither of the two leading political parties in Barbados wants that legislation to pass since they seems to be ALL tainted. The only way that legislation would succeed if we election a new group of politicians and force they hands to have this passed before they too become corrupt. Too many lawyers in parliament, we need a better balance

Until some politicians take Jail there will never be Integrity legislation. Isn’t it strange that many lawyers are now before the courts for theft and many politicians were once lawyers. It seems that going into the field of Law is an excellent breeding ground for aspiring politicians. Defrauding the public seems to be the name of the game.

Sanka Price wrote an article a few years back looking at the various moves of the two parties towards integrity legislation.

It started back in the 60’s just after independence I seem to remember the article saying.

He quoted Hansard to show that the first excuse that scuttled the exercise was colour …. all you all trying to do is slow up a poor black man!!!!!

It is amazing what that excuse has been used for over the decades.

The objective of this blog is to show how BOTH parties have played the electorate over the years.

The objective in subsequent blogs on IL will be to show how the relationship between the media and politicians has helped to keep the people in the ‘dark’.

The clarification is required before the labels begin to fly.

@jack spratt

Glad you responded because that was the publicly stated position of Wilfred Abrahams, PRO of the BAR 🙂

@ David

Am I reading right? Isn’t St. Michael North West the Constituency which Mr. Mascoll represented twice in the past? Didn’t he contest the seat in the last General Election? Is he finished with elective politics?
I will be very disappointed if that is the case since I was looking forward to his scholarly contributions in the House of Assembly once more. I don’t always get my local news when I am overseas and it is possible that he might told his constituents and his party that he was calling it a day when I was off the Rock.

One would have hoped the findings of the Duffus Commission hints of events which occurred and caused many to surmise the late PM Barrow was suffering from amnesia would encourage integrity and FOI legislation.

@Hants

Are you aware that it is proposed that an Integrity Commission would be the body which manages the information?

It will not be splashed in the public domain.

Tina tek off yuh blonde wig and see wat might happen tah yuh. Yuh does cum off wid sum reel silly questions.

David you know that another “reason” for opposition to FOI and Integrity Legislation is some politicians may not want to declare the overseas assets.

Some may have a little condo in Toronto.

Ministerial Code- excerpts from the proposed integrity legislation:
6b: Ministers have a duty to Parliament to account, and be held to account, for the policies, decisions and actions of their ministries, departments and agencies.
6f. Ministers must ensure that no conflict arises, or appears to arise, between their public duties and their private interests;
6g. Ministers should avoid accepting any gift or hospitality which might, or might reasonably appear to, compromise their judgement or place them under an improper obligation;

It is not a coincidence that many of the agencies concerned with the delivery of certain social services in this island have been established as statutory corporations. This process not only removes the “red tape”, but also gives the politician the power to influence policies through his appointed board of directors.
Juxtapose this simple observation with a quasi government department such as the National Housing Corporation. State housing is available at below market prices, thereby creating excess demand. Excess demand creates an environment for bribery and corruption. The politician responsible for this state agency is placed in a position of power; he controls the allocation of houses to those on the waiting list, jobs within the organisation, the tendering process, and those who provide the organization with goods and services. Thus, he may be motivated by incentives (monetary or otherwise) and votes to favour certain special interest groups.

Surely if we are honest, we must face the reality that politicians from both political parties have contravened the above proposed rules. We all know that the politicians use the statutory corporations to employ their constituents, because the process of gaining employment in central government is difficult because of the “red tape”. We all know that politicians employ the services of their friends to provide goods and services for the statutory corporations within their ministries. We know that many of those who provide refreshments at the annual conferences, branch meetings and during election campaigns, are often the ones who get the catering jobs and the school canteens.

BU is not the advocate or CBC. You of all people should understand. Neither political yardfowlism or pandering to advertiser dollars we have to be concerned about.

Stay tuned for other blogs on the subject of IL.rtiser dollars we have to be concerned about.

if this is the lilliputian responses you can salvage on the matter of your party’s inability to roll-out IL and FOIA then you can have the last word.

Both political parties have been pissing on our feet and telling us that it is raining. Enough is enough, we the people must insist and do whatever it takes to let these politicians know that it is time to stop playing the fool when it comes to Integrity Legislation.

@David,
If not an Integrity Commission, what?

Okay. An Integrity commission but with a FOI act that allows full disclosure of Politician’s assets.

The Canadian model is a good one. Note former PM Paul Martin had to put his corporation in a blind Trust.

DAVID

Your need for transparency extends to everyone else but not to you.
You will continue to remain in your glass house and throw stones at every one in the House of assembly.

Carson Cadogan yuh got an itch up yuh pooch? Why don’t yuh leff David alone and stop dis igrant behaviour? Go an bade and scrub yuh brass bowl!

CCC
You were very happy when the corruption scandals of the BLP were discussed with all the vigour here on BU
Now that your party is being urged to pass the promise of IL and FOI legislation, you are behaving like a spoilt brat.
Carson you are going to be very disappointed in 2013 because it is rumoured already that the marginal seats, are all but loss to the BLP. Something must be happening because I see many roads in St.Michael being paved.
The DLP won the government by exposing the corruption of the BLP. Now the BLP will win the government by exposing the corruption of the DLP
The DLP can save face and speed up the legislation in the select committee and get it pass by the next election or Owen Arthur will have his hands on the money purse again. Lord help us

@CCC: “Before you all forget, the DLP brought IL to the floor of the House Of Assembly.

And how well did that work for we simple Bajans?

By the way, you still haven’t answered my simple question: what is your real name?

If we had I’ll two ministers would have to declare their business interest in a business venture in Oldbury, one other minister would have had to declare the extent of his support with the controversial Peter Allard.

Clone you are correct that a DLP government who came to power on a wave of anti-coruption sentiment would have had nothing to show except to equal what a Tom Adams government in 1979.

@Chris

Despite the understanding shown by whoever wrote the last Sunday Sun editorial IL died at its second reading more than 30 years ago. There is a heavy suspicion IL under this administration will die as well.

@Chris

There was a lot of distrust back then, especially in a post-Duffus Commission period. We also had the then famous Sidney Burnett-Alleyne check alleged to have been paid to the late Cammie Tudor. The list is long. Even Tom Adams was implicated in a cheque allegedly received from Brydens. Will have to do some research if you want specifics. We also had the then famous Sidney Burnett-Alleyne check alleged to have been paid to the late Cammie Tudor. The list is long.

@Chris

Still trying to solve that problem of duplication.