Threshold hike to $12m removes 30,000 from IC scrutiny
Published:Wednesday | December 20, 2023 | 12:12 AM
Approximately 30,000 public sector workers will no longer be required to submit new statutory declarations to the Integrity Commission (IC) as Parliament approved an order that moved the threshold for submission from $3.5 million to $12 million.
The order was brought to Parliament after the anti-corruption body recommended a sharp increase in the threshold in September.
IC Director of Information and Complaints Craig Beresford told members of the IC Oversight Committee in September that the recommendation was made against the background of the anticipated increase in declarants, owing to the improved salaries to public sector workers under the compensation review.
The IC indicated that with the increased threshold, an estimated 10,000 public sector workers would now be required to submit their statutory declarations.
For the period ended December 31, 2021, more than 40,000 public officials were required to submit statutory declarations.
Beresford said that the current resources of the IC could not feasibly review in excess of 40,000 statutory declarations each year.
Justice Minister Delroy Chuck moved a resolution on Tuesday for the order to be approved, and Parliament gave it the green light.
However, Opposition Leader Mark Golding wanted to know the categories of public sector workers whose salaries are below the new $12 million threshold but would still be required to file as they are at higher risk of being susceptible to “influences”.
Chuck said he would respond to Golding’s query at a later sitting of the House as the information was not available at the time.
“What I would indicate is that the information would be forthcoming, but what is important is for us to approve this resolution so that persons who are under $12 million won’t have to file for next year,” Chuck said.