Integrity Act Addresses Loopholes
~~Adz:Left~~ Basseterre, St. Kitts (January 24, 2008): The proposed Integrity in Public Life Act is comprehensive in its design in an attempt to eliminate any loopholes, and ensure full disclosure by all the relevant persons.
Minister of State for Information Honourable Nigel Carty told SKNIS that Cabinet held in depth deliberations on the composition of the proposed Act which includes disclosure by political party candidates, parliamentarians on both sides of the House, Ministers of Government, Senior Public Servants including Permanent Secretaries, Directors, Heads of Department and Senior Public Officers. Managers of Public Corporations, Members of Board of Directors of Public Corporations and other persons who make important high-level decisions and commit government’s resources as well as their spouses will also be required to declare all of their assets and interests if the Act is passed.
Minister Carty indicated that the broad categories mentioned above are strategically done to eliminate surrogates and proxies being used to circumvent the provisions of the law. He reiterated Government’s commitment to transparency and public participation in the decision making process, citing the unprecedented high level of access to Ministers of Government and other public officials by the media and other stakeholders.
Interactive forums such as Face to Face, frequent press conferences, the National Consultation on the Economy and the many public information programmes produced by various government agencies were cited to reinforce his point.
As is the custom on major public decisions, Government is inviting suggestions on this important piece of legislation that may be enacted later in the current year. Suggestions may be sent to the Office of the Prime Minister or to email address skninfo@sisterisles.kn.
