Watchdog body urges all to ensure integrity legislation does not fail

Local watchdog organisation Integrity Group Barbados Inc. (IGB) is urging the Government to ensure it has the necessary support in the Senate to finally pass the Integrity in Public Life legislation, saying it would be “a sad day” if it failed again.

IGB made the call as it welcomed the latest commitment from Attorney General Dale Marshall that the Government will be doing all in its power to investigate and prosecute corrupt public officials, even in the face of limitations.

“Integrity Group Barbados (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 group said in a statement signed by its Chairman Andy Armstrong on Tuesday.

Highlighting that the bill needs a two-thirds majority to pass, Armstrong stressed that ensuring wide support in the Senate is 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 three independent senators to vote in favour,” he said.

Armstrong added that the organisation was conscious that the legislative process will be scrutinised beyond Barbados and, therefore, Parliament should not lose the opportunity “to do the right thing and ensure the necessary means for future enforcement”.

After a failed attempt in August 2020, lawmakers laid a revised Integrity in Public Life Bill at the end of January this year, hoping that the changes made would ensure the passing of the anti-corruption legislation.

On Monday, Marshall told a group of Directors of Public Prosecutions and law enforcement experts that there were limitations to the Barbados Police Service investigating corruption and that offenders were getting better at covering their tracks.

He said the fact that no one has been charged and prosecuted in Barbados for corruption over the years should not be seen as a failure, as he noted that the Government was being persistent in ensuring that measures were in place to tackle the issue of corruption.

“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,” he said. (MM)