PARLIAMENT?IS?TO?BEGIN debate today on the long anticipated Prevention of Corruption Bill 2010.
One of the key provisions of the bill before the House of Assembly, which starts at 10 a.m., is a declaration of assets by every person in public life including?Members of Parliament, their spouses and children under age 18.
According to the 157-page document, a three-member Prevention of Corruption Commission will be established comprising a former judge, an attorney of at least 15 years’ standing and a person with at least 15 years’ experience in financial or accounting matters.
The functions of the commission will be to receive and keep on record all declarations and documents furnished pursuant to the legislation; request from a person any information relevant to a declaration which in its opinion would assist in the examination and verification of the declaration.
It may also make independent enquiries and carry out investigations into any allegations of corruption or any act of omission relevant to compliance with the provisions of the law; make any enquiry it considers necessary in order to verify the accuracy of any declaration or document before it; and receive and investigate complaints in respect of compliance.
Any person who fails to file a declaration or provide information or knowingly makes a declaration which is false in some material issue is liable on conviction or indictment to a fine of $1/2 million or to imprisonment for a term of five years or both.
The broad brush of the bill is to provide for the prevention of corruption and implementation of
(a) the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption adopted on March 29, 1996;
(b) Articles 8 and 9 of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime relating to Corruption adopted on September 29, 2003; and
(c) the United Nations Convention Against Corruption adopted on October 31, 2003. (AB)
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