Senator points to anti-corruption bill’s ‘wide reach’

As the Prevention of Corruption Bill returned to the Senate for passage, Senator Lisa Cummins has touted its reach beyond infelicities in government but also corrupt business practices.

Senator Cummins, Minister of Tourism and International Transport sought to remind fellow lawmakers that corruption involving government and business goes further than political involvement and the exchange of money, but covers a wide gambit of situations where any persons in a position of power, can use said power to get anything of value.

Senator Cummins remarked that often there was a public perception that corruption within public life only ever involved politicians and their contacts using financial incentives to avoid public accountability.

But, she said: “Just so that we understand for the benefit of the record, that corruption is far more than the spectre of a politician passing or receiving money, but it includes persons at multiple levels. It is on the same basis that the Integrity Legislation also sought to ensure that we included a large raft of people well beyond those who are typically seen in the public eye.”

The bill, which was defeated in the Senate at the end of the last Parliament in 2020 and sent back to the Lower House, is one of several bills geared to clamp down on corrupt activities not just in Government or with businesses being contracted by any administration, but it also covers several other sectors, including education.

She said: “In part one of the legislation, it speaks in the interpretation of how the act is treated to; it speaks about a broad range of what can be defined as not just even corruption.  But corruption is oftentimes seen as engaging in an action, designed to seek advantage.

“Whether it is advantage according to the legislation by way of money, a gift, loan, fee, reward, a commission, some kind of bonus, a discount, a rebate, or even in areas that if you ask the average Barbadian as some may call them, what is corruption, they may not even assume that any entry into an academic institution or a course, or any grant, scholarship, favourable academic results, or any other service, favour or right, or privilege relating to education, those things constitute advantage and are covered in the Corruption legislation.”

The Government senator also added that the disqualification from public office was also included in the legislation for those convicted of committing corrupt acts, whether in or outside Government.

“It involves being disqualified from taking office and holding public office,” Senator Cummins. “These are the things including things like contracts and tenders that constitute corruption, and yes it also includes things like passing money in order to get an advantage by electoral advantage, but that is not the only thing that constitutes corruption.”

Though the bill in its present state covers many areas of concern in regards to the enforcement of corruption laws, Senator Cummins acknowledged more work must be done to streamline work being carried out by governmental entities, amid public frustration over transactions with delays and miscommunication historically in the public service. This, she said, leads to situations where some people see the need to go about their business by corrupt means.

Senator Cummins said: “There is a need of reform and strengthening of the system, and this is one of the things that is called for in the legislation, because it is the prevention, not just the enforcement element of it.

“There are a number of activities which are required by the state to ensure that we do not create the conditions where people feel the need to engage in corrupt practices. That includes reform of the civil service, that entails engaging with our judicial institutions and strengthening judicial institutions.” (SB)