fp Turks and Caicos

The Turks and Caicos Islands Integrity Commission joined the nations of the world in observing Dec. 9 as United Nations International Anti-Corruption Day.

In 2003, the U.N. designated the day to raise people’s awareness of corruption and its devastating effect on the economic, social and political lives of a people and to identify the tools to combat and prevent it.

The observance came during the same week that four former TCI government ministers and five others appeared in court on various corruption charges.
A 2009 Commission of Inquiry alleged widespread corruption among TCI government officials and others, prompting the U.K. to suspend democratically elected government and to investigate those allegations.

“Corruption undermines democracy, good governance, justice and the rule of law; it breeds poverty in the midst of plenty; insecurity where there should be safety,” the commission said in a statement. “Corruption is a deadly cancer that corrodes and destroys the social, economic and political fabrics of any nation.”

The UN Convention Against Corruption and the OECD Convention on the Bribery of Foreign Officials in International Transactions were enacted to aid in the global fight against corruption. Countries were urged to incorporate the provisions of these conventions into their domestic laws.

In 2008, TCI enacted such legislation which came into force on June 1, 2009. On May 10, 2010, the Integrity Commission was established to combat corruption and promote integrity, honesty and good faith in public life so that public resources are used fairly and equitably for the benefit of all TCI citizens and residents.

Since its establishment, the commission has worked to help set up the legal, infrastructural and institutional framework necessary to effectively and efficiently carry out its statutory and constitutional mandate.

The six-member commission and staff duties include:

• Receiving and keeping declarations of people in public life
• Examining and investigating declarations
• Receiving and investigating complaints regarding acts of corruption
• Conducting any investigations into any acts of corruption on its own initiative if satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for investigation
• Examining the practises and procedures of public bodies in order to facilitate the discovery of corrupt practices
• Instructing, advising and assisting the management of public bodies

“On this International Anti-Corruption Day, the Integrity Commission reaffirms its resolve to play a leading role in this anti-corruption campaign, and wishes to thank the government, citizens and residents of TCI, especially persons in public life for their support and cooperation since its establishment,” the commission said.