Harrison eyes position with new Integrity Commission
Published:Wednesday | November 15, 2017 | 12:00 AMEdmond Campbell
When the governor general names the commissioners who will preside over the new anti-corruption body called the Integrity Commission, it is expected that current Contractor General Dirk Harrison will be listed among the leadership of that body.
In October, Governor General Sir Patrick Allen gave his assent to the Integrity Commission law. This means that the public sector oversight body is one step closer to being established, and the functions of the Office of the Contractor General will be transferred to this new entity.
In March, this year, Harrison completed four of his seven-year term as contractor general.
Harrison told The Gleaner that the Integrity Commission law makes provision for a transition process in which the remainder of his term would be completed at the new entity.
"My reading of the legislation also is that the effective date (of its establishment) is a date announced by the minister. I think there needs to be further discussion because we need to understand the full transition as it relates to the role I will play in the new dispensation."
Harrison, who describes himself as a career civil servant, worked as a deputy director of public prosecutions in Jamaica before he took up the job as contractor general in 2013.
He indicated that the employees at the Office of the Contractor General were prepared to play their part in the development of the new entity.
"The successes that one may argue have been achieved by this office over the last few years, I could not have done it alone," said Harrison, adding that it was the effort of a "well-meshed team that is well oiled and ready to go".