Prime Minister Mia Mottley believes there are lessons to be learnt from the punishment meted out to former Government minister Donville Inniss.
The 55-year-old Inniss, who served as Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development in the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) administration, was today sentenced to 24 months in a US prison.
Last year, Inniss, a U.S. legal permanent resident who resided in Tampa, Florida, and Barbados, was found guilty of two counts of money laundering and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
In a statement issued this evening, the Prime Minister implored those in public office to serve the people and to not look out for their own personal interests.
“It is a sad day but we trust that this development today brings this unfortunate episode closer to closure. We live in an era where governance and where accountability matter. It is a lesson for all of us, whether elected or appointed.
“There must be a recognition that our commitment to serve people is a solemn one. We act not in our own interest but on behalf of others. What is the takeaway from this? That our duty and focus must always be to serve people – and in their interest, not that of those of us who come to serve. It is truly an unfortunate moment and I hope that we can soon put it behind us,” Mottley said.
Speaking to Barbados TODAY moments after the sentence was handed down in the Eastern District Court of New York by Judge Kiyo Matsumoto this afternoon, Opposition Leader Reverend Atherley said it was “unfortunate” Inniss would be imprisoned.
“I think it is unfortunate. I mean it is a Barbadian politician and you don’t ever want to hear that that is what transpires. Certainly, I would want to commiserate with his family, his wife and two children.
“I think there is a lesson in that for all of us who are in public life. There are one or two things that we need to be mindful of. In Barbados I think we need to deal with the corruption which already we know about here in Barbados because there is corruption that we know about in Barbados and we need to deal with that,” Atherley, who heads the People’s Party for Democracy and Development (PdP) said.
“People in public life need to be very cautious relative to the persons with whom we establish relationships and with whom we have linkages.”
According to the evidence presented at his trial, Inniss laundered $36,000 in bribes through the United States in 2015 and 2016. He received the money via payments authorised by high-level executives of the Insurance Corporation of Barbados Limited (ICBL).
Prosecutors maintained that at the time, Inniss used his position as a minister to facilitate ICBL to secure two insurance contracts from the Barbados Government to insure over $100 million worth of government property, in exchange for bribes.
Atherley said there was a definite need for a change in the way Government contracts were awarded.
“Traditionally in Barbadian political economy the manner of the award of contracts has always been an issue and I think still we have to deal properly with that.
“I’ve advocated for a Contractor General, other people have done that as well and I think that is a significant area that allows for potential corruption and corrupt practices,” Atherley maintained.
In giving a brief comment, President of the Democratic Labour Party Verla DePeiz too suggested that the lessons should not be lost.
She described the development as a “sad day” for the country.
“This indeed is a sad day for all of us in the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) family and for the country.
Donville has always been a valuable member of our team and our compassion is extended to him and his family. The justice system has spoken up this point and we all must listen,” she said. (randybennett@barbadostoday.bb)
