Red flag over potential for corruption with gifts via politicians’ relatives
Published:Friday | July 12, 2024 | 12:11 AMEdmond Campbell/Senior Staff Reporter
National Integrity Action (NIA) says it is in full support of a recommendation by the Integrity Commission (IC) for lawmakers to remove Section 40 (4) of the Integrity Commission Act (ICA), which is a potential corruption enabler.
In its 2023-2024 annual report, the IC said it is conceivable that a relative of a parliamentarian or public official could be utilised as a channel for the exchange of illicit benefits, intended to provide an advantage to themselves or someone else.
The legislation allows for a relative of a parliamentarian or a public official to offer gifts to them without any reporting scheme.
NIA Principal Director Danielle Archer says the provision could be exploited, allowing some parliamentarians to accept bribes under the guise of gifts.
“Given the current low public trust in politics, the perception that politicians can accept gifts of any kind further undermines our political system,” she said.
In a related matter, IC Chairman Retired Justice Seymour Panton said while he would not query the veracity of declarants, he has taken note that the director of information and complaints has received responses indicating the gifts received by some public officials had been from individuals who are now deceased.
“These gifts are without a paper trail, and, of course, the donors are no longer able to verify same. It is perhaps something worth watching. The commission is not keen on investigating matters relating to donations by persons who have died,” Panton said in the report.
Archer said NIA has taken note of the IC’s concern in relation to the explanation by declarants that they acquired assets from people who have died. Citing this as a major concern, Archer said it appears that some public officials and parliamentarians are attempting to hide the true origins of their assets.
“This affects public trust. It enables a public perception that 92 per cent of politicians are corrupt, as observed by NIA Don Anderson poll of December 2023,” she said.
While persons of the highest integrity should serve in Parliament, Archer said, if some lawmakers are deceptive about where and how they obtain their assets, that will further lower the public’s trust in politicians.
“This makes it difficult to attract the best people to serve in Parliament, even if they are paid the highest salaries. It also undermines the Government and our democracy. In the end, it is the people of Jamaica who will be deprived of improved public services,” she said.
In its annual report, the IC said it is investigating three parliamentarians and four public officials for providing false information to the anti-corruption body for the period April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024.
The IC also reported that 16 persons have been referred for investigation on allegations of conflict of interest, corruption, fraud, impropriety, contracts, and procurement breaches.