Lawmakers are to deliberate on potential further oversight for the Integrity Commission.
The topic came up for discussion on Thursday during a meeting of the joint select committee reviewing the Integrity Commission Act.
However, a proposal to create the post of Inspector General as a further check on the Integrity Commission was met with scepticism by member of parliament, MP, for South East St. Andrew, Julian Robinson.
Chevon Campbell tells us more.
The proposal of an Inspector General to oversee the Integrity Commission forms part of recommendations put forward by South West St. Catherine MP, Everald Warmington, to the Joint Select Committee.
This is similar to Australia’s National Anti-Corruption Commission, NACC, Act.
Under the Australian model, the Inspector’s role is to detect corrupt conduct within and relating to the NACC. The inspector undertakes preliminary investigations into NACC corruption issues or possible NACC corruption issues.
If adopted locally, that office, for example, would deal with the recent complaint raised by government legislators regarding the conduct of senior executives at the Integrity Commission.
However, opposition MP Julian Robinson called the proposed scheme into question. He says no fault has, so far, been identified in the current accountability framework of the Integrity Commission.
He also raised issue with the appointment of such an inspector being within the remit of a cabinet minister and not the governor general.
However, committee chairman, Edmund Bartlett, says the recommendation is not without merit. He argues that, at minimum, it should be explored further.
And Mr. Warmington says the proposed Inspector would also assist parliament in its oversight of the Integrity Commission.
Ultimately, lawmakers agreed to examine the provision at a later sitting of the joint select committee.
