This is an excerpt from the US State Department 2010 Human Rights Report on Saint Lucia from the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (2010) Country Reports on Human Rights Practices [dated April 8, 2011]Section 4: Official Corruption and Government Transparency reads:
" . . . Corruption continued to be viewed as serious and was widely discussed by the media, the business community, and opposition politicians. Observers expressed concern that the country was moving backwards in terms of transparency and accountability. There was also concern that some foreign assistance programs went through the specific offices of parliamentarians, providing the opportunity for graft. There was an increasing public perception that certain politicians were wielding undue influence over the law enforcement community to shield them from investigation for corrupt practices.
In June the appellate court ruled that actions taken in 2009 by the attorney general and other cabinet members to approve a duty-free waiver for a colleague were unlawful, unreasonable, irrational, and made in bad faith. The court ruling accused the cabinet members of being involved in a cover up of fraud and corruption, but there were no consequences aside from public disclosure.
High-level government officials, including elected officials, were subject to annual disclosure of their financial assets to the Integrity Commission, a constitutionally established commission. The parliamentary commissioner, auditor general, and the Public Services Commission are responsible for combating corruption. Parliament can also appoint a special committee to investigate specific allegations of corruption."
Source: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/wha/154518.htm
Are the last two statements true?
ReplyDelete"The parliamentary commissioner, auditor general [director of auditor], and the Public Services Commission are responsible for combating corruption. Parliament can also appoint a special committee to investigate specific allegations of corruption."
The big question is: Have the Parliamentary Commissioner, Public Service Commission, Director of Auditor and Parliament been doing their work?
How does the PSC take action against the persons who appointed it?
Will a largely corrupt parliament ever take action against itself? Will Richard, Rufus, Mr Tuxedo, Guy etc ever support appoint a special committee to investigate the Taiwanese Funds Scandal, the Moroccan Funds Scandal, Bousquet's Caribbean Connections?
I want Kenny - who is the Head of the Public Accounts Committee - to move that motion in the House at its next sitting?