TCI introduces new law to check corruption
(CNS): The UK interim government in the Turks and Caicos Islands has implemented legislation in the territory that could see politicians jailed for breaching procedures relating to the county’s House of Assembly as well as corruption. With the territory’s constitution to be reinstated next month ahead of a general election in November, the British government has introduced a set of measures designed to limit opportunities for corruption and to prevent parliamentarians from misleading the public when speaking in the Assembly. A breach of the new ordinance could attract three years jail time or a fine of $50,000 for future MPs.
According to the local press, the governor denied that the House of Assembly Powers and Privileges Ordinance would muzzle future members.
Recently the governor was lauding the work of the UK in the territory since it suspended the islands' constitution back in 2009 in the wake of revelations of serious corruption in the local government. He said that reform in TCI was the most far-reaching in any UK Overseas Territory.
The new House of Assembly law is one of three pieces of legislation passed by the interim administration ahead of the elections that sets out a range of procedures and details the privileges and immunities of MPs and their general conduct.
“Although likely to be amongst the last pieces of legislation enacted by the Interim Administration, these bills, along with the bills on the Public Service and Government Procurement, contribute not only to meeting the milestones but also to the goals of modernising the laws of the TCI, providing TCI with the positive legacy of a more effective public service, with significantly improved control of its public finances, and better functioning institutions,” Governor Ric Todd stated last week following an Advisory Council meeting .
The Assembly law states that a person is guilty of an offence if they present a false document to parliament, or if they give false evidence before the House or a committee, if they offer a bribe to a member or to an officer of the House, or offer a fee, compensation, gift or reward to promote or oppose a law or matter submitted to the Assembly.
Todd said that the new provisions would ensure that the House is conducted in a more efficient and less trivial manner. He denied that it was meant to limit the freedom of expression of future MPs but said it would govern on the basis on how those issues should be discussed. Under the new law, he said, parliamentarians would not be allowed to mislead, abuse or seek to bribe or corrupt parliament without facing certain consequences.
“I think everybody wants a House of Assembly which can work honestly, openly and in the interest of the people of the Islands,” Governor Todd stated.
He told the local media that the law would give the people of the TCI a parliament which is open, transparent, where members display high standards and are treated with respect.
Category: World News
Past time for these types of measures here too!
I would have thought such laws and penalties would be a given. Afterall isn't "prevention" of corruption (and by extention, prosecution) the root of the tree of "Good Governance"?
This is NOT rocket science!…question is do the "powers that be" have the political will? And that includes the UK! Because clearly our local lawmakers will NOT do so.
Not a bad idea for Cayman since everyone in high places seem to think and and act that they are not accountable to anyone. Cayman s too tolerant of the behaviors of our politicians but everyone that is n a position to challenge them are afraid of them. Sad state of affairs. Vicious cycle. May 2013 we better see a change for the better or I am afraid we won’t be able to recognize our beloved islands with 4 more years of tips government and ths mess.
Bit late isn't it?
Might be a bit late there, but it will stop it happening in the future. But its definitely not too late for here – I wish they would introduce it here immediately.
Immediately and retroactively!
Thank You Mother Country! Now please rewrite "OUR" constitution to include the prosecution of not just the Elected Members of Government but every Officer of every Department there of who has breached those statutes. And give us a Police Department that will pursue any plausible leads, and a Judicial Department that will prosecute any and all persons found to be in violation of any of the statutes of Good Governance!
Let us also pass a "Whistle Blowers Law" which allows civil servants to come forward with any evidence of any violation of these statutes, and if there is money to be repaid by anyone being found guilty in a court of law, the whistle blower is then rewarded for doing the right thing. After all it's "OUR" money! Maybe then, we'll see a change in the "modus operandi" of our Elected Members.
At the same time that we passed a “Whistle Blowers” Law, we could repeal the Confidential Relationships Preservation Law which has served no practical purpose for years.
We need something similar here too. Politicians should set policy and not dip their hands in to the operations of government. Civil Servants should carry out those policies in accordance witht he laws and procedures laid down and anytime either of thembreach that there should be a penalty and if corruption is involved, then that penalty should be magnified by 10.