IC wants threshold raised for public sector statutory declarations

The Integrity Commission (IC) has proposed that the current $3.5-million threshold for public sector workers, who are required by law to file statutory declarations with the anti-corruption body, be increased to $12 million.

Craig Beresford, director of information and complaints at the IC, told the IC Oversight Committee of Parliament yesterday that the recommendation was being made against the background of the anticipated increase in declarants, owing to improved salaries to public sector workers under the Compensation Review.

The committee is expected to consider and come to a position on the proposal by early October.

The IC reported that, for the period ended December 31, 2021, more than 40,000 public officials were required to submit statutory declarations.

He reported that the IC examined 563 statutory declarations from a total of 40,000 as at March 2023.

Of the 563 statutory declarations examined, the IC said it signed off on 439.

Beresford said that the IC must strive to strike a balance between the objectives to be achieved by the requirements of the asset disclosure regime and its effectiveness.

EXTENDING REQUIREMENT

“Where the Integrity Commission must be guarded is extending the requirement to more than 40,000 public officials who are now required to file statutory declarations, as its current resources cannot feasibly review in excess of 40,000 statutory declarations annually,” he said.

Beresford said the IC is contemplating a ‘position-based’ criterion for selecting public officials who would be required to make assets disclosures.

This is informed by a review of other jurisdictions which require assets disclosure as part of their anti-corruption framework.

The IC revealed that no other implementing jurisdiction reviewed uses a threshold for emoluments as a criterion to identify public officials who are required to file.

Quizzed about compliance by the various public sector groups, Beresford disclosed that parliamentarians are the most compliant in submitting their statutory declarations to the IC.

In some instances, legislators register a 99 per cent compliance rate.

Member of the Oversight Committee Marlene Malahoo Forte expressed disappointment that the high compliance rate by parliamentarians was not sufficiently highlighted to the public.

“Usually, the high level of compliance, even if it is reported in writing, is never emphasised in the Tweets, in the follow-ups, media communication, it is never ever… giving the public the impression that the lawmakers are lawmakers in this regard,” she said.

However, Beresford said the IC has reported the high compliance rate by lawmakers in its annual reports.

The IC also reported in its annual report that six parliamentarians are under investigation for illicit enrichment. The lawmakers under investigation for illicit enrichment are yet to identify themselves.

At the same time, 28 public officials are being probed for illicit enrichment.

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