CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – THE Nevis Island Administration is expected to have the Integrity in Public Life Commission functional within the coming weeks, according to Premier Mark Brantley.
The Premier disclosed that they had located an office space for the commission to operate and they have already begun furnishing it for the body to work.
Addressing reporters at his recent press conference, Brantley said the office would be located in the RAM’S Complex.
“We’ve now installed the furniture at that office space. We’ve installed the telephone lines and internet, and those have been connected. The commissioners, I have been told, would have to date interviewed some seven persons for various positions there and we expect it to be staffed very shortly,” he disclosed. “I had occasion to speak this morning with the Chairman of the Integrity in Public Life Commission and he has indicated that they are ready to move very quickly.”
The Government had passed legislation in 2013 to establish the IPL Commission.
Brantley said the operationalisation of the Commission is in keeping with a commitment made in keeping with good governance and transparence.
“It is a commitment that I and this Government are very serious about, and it is a commitment that we will bring to fruition as one of our pillars of greater transparency in government and more open and transparent governance.”
The Premier disclosed that the commissioners were appointed in 2018 by the then Deputy Governor General with Ricaldo Caines as Chairman; Alford Tyrell, who was nominated by the Opposition; and Sydney Newton nominated by the Government.
In March, Brantley said: “We have talked about the good governance agenda. This is an important pillar of that, and we have asked the Legal Department to expedite the regulations so that we can have all that we need. But we would expect a fully functional Integrity in Public Life Bill and Commission, and the necessary support for that within, I am advised, another month or month-and-a-half everything should be up and running.”
