Under scrutiny

Select workers to be vetted in move to fight corruption By Marlon Madden Certain categories of workers in the private and public sectors, including those in lower positions, could soon be subjected to “various forms of truth verification” at least once every two years as the Government moves to weed out corruption. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Dale Marshall gave this indication on Friday as he reintroduced a revamped Integrity in Public Life Bill in the Lower House of Parliament, three years after the original legislation failed to garner support in the Senate. He told fellow lawmakers that he has already started to engage the labour union on the matter. Marshall said the truth verification process would ensure accountability and eradicate corruption. “I think that by now members of the Chamber should know that we have embarked on a project which will see individuals occupying sensitive offices having to subject themselves to various forms of truth verification testing so that we will have an idea of your own integrity,” said Marshall. “While we are talking about individuals in public life being subject to this Integrity bill, we also recognise that corruption does not only happen in high offices. Corruption also shows its head in many of the lower offices that people occupy in Barbados, both in the private sector and the public sector, and that is why we have begun the discussions with the unions because we are committed to bringing to Barbados, accountability in a way we never had it before.” From as far back as 2017, the then Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite underscored the need for “integrity testing”, especially among those in sensitive positions within border security agencies. Towards the end of last year, the Mia Mottley administration indicated that it would be pushing ahead with plans for polygraph testing for workers in sensitive positions at the island’s ports of entry to help stem the flow of guns into the country. Over the years, labour union representatives have expressed caution about the approach. However, giving a clear indication on Friday that the truth verification testing would go beyond ports of entry, Marshall said: “We are saying to the country, we are saying to all individuals – private sector and public sector – if you are employed in a sensitive area or if you have to access a physically sensitive area you are going to have to be subject to truth verification testing or some other kind of vetting once every two years.” “So a porter in a particular establishment will not have to file documents before the Integrity Commission, but because of the sensitive nature of the place that he has to work or he has to visit in the course of his work, because of the sensitive duties that he or she may be required to undertake, we are going to be implementing a system of vetting. So that even at those lower levels we are going to be in a position to weed out corruption,” he further explained. The Integrity in Public Life legislation makes provision for the establishment of a six-member Integrity Commission, which will be tasked with investigating any alleged contravention of the Integrity in Public Life Act or the Code of Conduct and alleged offences under the Act. Among other things, this Commission will also be responsible for requesting, receiving, keeping on record, examining and inquiring into all declarations, statements of registrable interests and reports of gifts filed with it under the Integrity in Public Life Act. The Integrity Commission will consist of a chairman, an attorney-at-law, a chartered or certified accountant, a member of the clergy who is appointed by the President after consultation with the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, a person appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister, and a person appointed by the President on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition. Members of the Integrity Commission will hold office for an initial period of three years and be eligible for reappointment. Marshall gave the assurance that those individuals will be carefully vetted. He indicated that he expected some level of discomfort since they will have to “subject themselves to a level of scrutiny that they have never had to subject themselves before”. “The scrutiny is not just on yourself, it is on your spouse and it can also be on your children in limited circumstances. This, no doubt, is very different to what we know,” he said. The Attorney General gave the assurance that any information provided by individuals who are governed by the Integrity in Public Life Act will be protected. “I assure the individuals holding public office and members of the public at large who may one day decide to enter public life and have to provide the information, your data is not going to be made public to anyone. Your data is going to be protected. So you need not fear that an individual is going to be able to find out what you own [and] what your wife owns; they can’t,” Marshall assured. Back in August 2020, the Integrity in Public Life Bill was defeated in the Senate, falling four votes short of the required two-thirds majority to pass with several Independent Senators expressing concern about the absence of whistleblower provisions and calling for judges to be among officials captured in the legislation. marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb]]>