Advocating for an enhanced anti-corruption framework.
During the period leading to the election, Integrity Group Barbados’ primary focus was electoral integrity and voter education. However, the group’s founding purpose is to agitate for higher levels of integrity in the Barbadian public and private sector. Therefore, with the instillation of the next government, Integrity Group Barbados’ concerns and advocacy will remain on this founding rationale. Ultimately, after the 24th of May, Barbados will still be confronted with an inadequate national integrity system. Barbados continues to trail other Caribbean territories that have passed, proclaimed and operationalized an anti-corruption framework or are in the process of doing so. Most recently has been St Kitts and Nevis, whose Premier, Hon. Mark Bentley, prompted the island’s Legal Advisor to institutionalize their Integrity in Public Life legislation.
The need for an integrity legislative framework
The need for Barbados to follow suit and enhance its national integrity system is undeniable. Accordingly, during this campaign season and beyond, matters of this nature ought to be vigorously discussed. Given the state of the island’s economic affairs, undoubtedly economic discussions will take center stage. Nevertheless, Barbadians should be reminded that the island’s economic recovery is linked to anti-corruption measures, as high corruption levels can negatively affect this recovery.
Parties’ proposals on integrity legislation
Political parties are mindful of these connections and have proposed ideas and policy initiatives that seek to improve the national integrity system. On the matter of public procurement, Solutions Barbados has proposed changing the composition of tenders committees from civil servants to representatives from professional organizations. Whereas, with the United Progressive Party, emphasis has been placed on amending the powers of the Auditor General, to allow direct consultation with the DPP on whether charges should be brought against public officials.
The more established political parties have also placed anti-corruption on their agenda. The DLP has passed but failed to proclaim their Prevention of Corruption Act, and the BLP has released their own version in the form of a legislative draft. Both approaches to integrity legislation have laudable provisions. Each have proposed that an anti-corruption commission be established which principle aims are to investigate allegations of corruption and to ensure compliance with additional provisions within the bill. Such provisions include a code of conduct for public servants, and the declaration of assets along with a blind trust requirement for public officials operating a private enterprise.
Additional measures needed
With the introduction of these proposals, there is a need to examine their merits and inadequacies. Additionally, parties should be pressed on time passage and implementation. In the case of DLP, there must inquiries into when their Prevention of Corruption Act will be proclaimed if they retain government. With regards to the BLP, questions concerning their commitment to their integrity legislation draft, and the time frame for its passage and proclamation ought to raise.
Although these proposals are a step in the right direction, they do not adequately address many of the legislative gaps that exist in our nation integrity systems. Corruption will persist in the absence of visibility and information, employees will remain silent about their knowledge of possible corruption without the necessary protections for disclosure, and political parties will be beholden to big money and foreign actors that finance their campaigns. Therefore, Integrity Group Barbados strongly advocates for the enactment of freedom of information, whistle-blowing, campaign finance reform, procurement and other seminal pieces of legislation that can improve our national integrity system.
The perspectives of various parties on these additional pieces of legislation should be at the forefront of discussions during the election campaign. Post-election, continued visibility and increased pressure should further be encouraged as the next government ought to ensure these anti-corruption measures become law. Successive parties have often made “first 100 days” promises to enhance our anti-corruption framework. Yet, Barbados is still governed by antiquated anti-corruption legislation dating to the 1970s and 1920s.
A call or action
The challenges and the realities of the 21st century that we must confront require modern and effective legislative responses. Therefore, during and after the 2018 campaign, it is the intent of Integrity Group Barbados to promote to the public what an improved national integrity system demands. Additionally, we will continue to publicly lobby the next government to immediately and vigorously pursue fortifying Barbados’ anti-corruption framework.