Statement on Integrity in Public Life Bill 2023 – 4th April 2023
Statement on Integrity in Public Life Bill 2023
Integrity Group Barbados Inc. (IGB) is heartened by the Attorney General’s recent comments on the need to tackle corruption despite the challenges of doing so in a small society.
IGB is looking forward to the debate of the Integrity in Public life Bill 2023 in the very near future.
The majority of CARICOM countries already have integrity legislation and Barbados is overdue to put this in place. This legislation is critical in completing the suite of legislation (along with the already passed Whistleblower Protection Act and Prevention of Corruption Act and the amended Public Procurement (amendment) Bill 2023 that is now before Parliament) that will facilitate the investigation and prosecution of those suspected of corrupt acts.
There has been some public scepticism as to whether the government is fully committed to seeing this
bill pass, with some saying privately that it is “designed to fail”. IGB believes that it would be a sad day if this bill were to be defeated and we call on all those who will debate it to express any concerns they may have and for the government to listen to those carefully and to make amendments where
warranted.
Ultimately we believe that this bill should and can pass once there is proper ventilation
within both houses.
The bill needs a two-thirds majority to pass as it impacts on the constitution. Ensuring wide support in the Senate is therefore imperative. The government has 12 seats in the Senate out of a total of 21.
Since the President does not normally vote, the government needs to ensure that all 11 of its senators attend and vote for the bill and also convince at least 3 independent senators to vote in favour.
IGB is conscious that the legislative process will be scrutinised beyond Barbados. Parliament should not lose the opportunity to do the right thing and ensure the necessary means for future enforcement.
Andy Armstrong
Chair – IGB
4th April 2023