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by Ria Riley
In light of the Donville Innis saga, I take this time to remind our Government about a campaign promise they made about the integrity life bill they boasted of passing 100 days of being in office.
This is year three! Where is it? Yes, an initiative was made, however nothing has come of this initiative because at the time of the sitting one new minister was to be in quarantine and so another walked out of Parliament fearing their safety rendering that null and void because x number of people were needed to be present in order to go ahead with the Integrity Bill.
Surely, with all this power, adjustments can be made and as much “enthusiasm” as is put into extending the State of Emergency Act, this government can certainly put the same energy into making the Integrity Bill happen.
Or was that all fluff?
Now more than ever we need transparency and accountability in our government especially for the mere fact that there is no real opposition.
Over the years ministries came up in Auditor General reports with suspicious activity, yet no thorough investigations were made.
These things were just swept under the carpet. No one was held accountable. Even the last 2019 report suggests foul play where there was concern about a particular ministry not presenting their accounts annually for auditing in a timely manner knowing the arrangements they have with an international monetary aiding institution.
I am positive Barbadians are willing to forgive these blatant wrongs and restore much needed faith in our politicians if this Integrity Bill is passed.
There has come a time such as now where Barbadians must require better of its government.
Ria Riley, former UPP candidate for Christ Church West Central
