Monday, December 9, 2013 is the International Anti-Corruption Day. Since 2003, the United Nations designated December 9, of every year to raise awareness on the evil and scourge of corruption worldwide and the collaborative efforts of the international community to combat and prevent it.
The theme this year “ZERO CORRUPTION=100% DEVELOPMENT” was conceived by a young student from Rwanda, Southern Africa and adopted by the International Community. It conveys the message of the corrosive effect of corruption on national development and ‘reinforces the idea that development can thrive only when societies tackle the root causes of corruption’
Corruption undermines democracy, creates unstable governments, enriches a few persons but makes many poor and consequently sets countries back economically. Besides the common form of offering and receiving bribery, corruption comes in other various forms such as using of position of power or trust for the purpose of benefiting oneself or another person’s; breaking the law or undermining due process and covering it; silencing those who expose corruption; knowingly or recklessly allowing a private interest to conflict with or improperly influence ones public duties.
The United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and the OECD Convention Against Bribery of Foreign Officials in International Transactions (the Conventions) are the two binding International legal instruments which have continued to provide the legal framework and impetus for the on–going global campaign against corruption.
The Turks and Caicos Islands has fully complied with and surpassed the principal requirements of these Conventions by enacting several local laws which are specifically designed to combat bribery and corruption, ensure integrity, probity, accountability and transparency in public life. These laws include the Integrity Commission Ordinance, the Political Activities Ordinance (dealing with political campaign financing, among others things), the Public Procurement Ordinance, the Public Finance Management Ordinance, the Public Service Ordinance and the Code of Conduct for Persons in Public Life issued by the Integrity Commission in accordance with the 2011 Constitution. Some of these enactments and instrument are the first of their kind in the Caribbean region, including the Caribbean UK Overseas Territories.
The Integrity Commission is pleased that the provisions of these laws are being actively enforced by the respective agencies charged with their implementation. More importantly is that majority of persons in public life and their public bodies have demonstrated their support and commitment to the Commission’s campaign for a TCI where corruption is never tolerated, a TCI where integrity, honesty, probity and accountability are re-integrated into the culture and everyday life of the people. In this regard, the Commission is happy to note in particular:
• That the 2011 Constitution has reinforced the establishment and powers of the Integrity Commission as an independent anti-corruption agency and one of the institutions that protect good governance.
• That there had been up to 98% compliance rate in the filing of Declarations by persons in public life and 100% compliance rate in the filing of Registrable Interests by all Members of the House of Assembly;
• That there was substantial compliance by the political parties and independent candidates on donations and campaign expenditure under the Political Activities Ordinance during the last general and by–elections.
• The approval by the House of Assembly of a 100% increase to $1.1m in the budget of the Commission for the current financial year.
Eugene Otuonye, Q.C, Director of the Integrity Commission, commenting further on this International Anti-Corruption Day said: “Although TCI is currently compliant with the principle requirements of the international Conventions against corruption, the vision of the Commission remains a corruption-free TCI. Realising this vision will be daunting but achievable and more than anything, it will require the continuing and unwavering support and commitment of all citizens and residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
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