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The Bar Association made much of the issue in late October, coming out swinging at the bench for late judgments which in some instances ran for ten years. Among judges being put to task for the late delivery of judgments was the Chief Justice. It wou...

Recommendations to the Bar

Anti-corruption plan formalized

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Written by Administrator

Thursday, 18 March 2010 00:00

The UDP Government was elected in 2008 on an anti-corruption platform and as recent as in his Independence Day address on September 21st, 2009, Prime Minister Dean Barrow reiterated his and his administration’s commitment to stifling even the stench of corruption. And so it should come as no surprise that government is moving ahead to implement articles of the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption.

Last week representatives from the Judiciary, the Public Service, Police Department, Non-Governmental Organizations and officials from the Organization

of American States met to review and finalize the draft plan of action for implementation of the anti-corruption convention. The 115 page plan was developed by a Group of Experts who met in Washington in 2008 and who made recommendations for Belize. The purpose of the two day national consultation was to review the recommendations, see where Belize has already made progress in the areas already implemented, and then prioritize the recommendations for implementation.

In opening the two day national workshop, Minister of the Public Service Hon. John Saldivar said that Belize has already adopted several measures which criminalize the acts of corruption provided for by Article 6 of the Convention. In addition, Hon. Saldivar noted that Belize too has already considered and adopted certain measures to maintain and strengthen standards of conduct designed to prevent conflicts of interest and the mechanisms to enforce them. That is in addition to standards of conduct to ensure the proper consultation and use of resources entrusted to government officials in the performance of their functions and enforcement mechanisms.

Government has also passed the Finance and Audit Reform Act, but Hon. Saldivar conceded that more needs to be done; which is why he announced that, “very soon a new fiscal transparency legislation will be introduced which will have stiff penalties and prison time for politicians and public officers who are convicted of trying to make off with the people’s money.” Hon. Saldivar concluded that, though a few rogue police, customs, and other public officers operate as if nothing changed on February 8th, 2008, “as a Government we remain committed to our principles and ideals as expressed in our manifesto and we will work tirelessly to restore the integrity of and confidence in the Belize Public Service.”

Revisions, corrections, and additions recommended during the consultation will be incorporated into the plan of action which will then be given to government for action and implementation.