“David Comissiong’s vision of integrity legislation is, like Thompson’s, a recently conceived, half-baked mixture thrown together for the election because, well, everybody is talking about integrity legislation so we must talk about it too.”
The President of the People’s Empowerment Party (PEP) has joined the list of politicians calling for integrity legislation – even though none of them are willing to place the details of their definition of integrity legislation in writing. “Trust me, Bajan voters don’t need to know what I really mean by integrity legislation” is what PEP’s Comissiong and DLP’s Thompson are saying.
Comissiong’s statements at his recent press conference show the dangers of accepting politician’s statements at face value – because the politicians each have a different definition and vision of “integrity legislation”.
David Comissiong’s vision of integrity legislation is, like Thompson’s, a recently conceived, half-baked mixture thrown together for the election because, well, everybody is talking about integrity legislation so we must talk about it too.
According to an article in the Nation News, Comissiong believes that “Integrity Legislation” is only about politicians having to declare their assets and publish campaign donations. That’s it. That is “Integrity Legislation” according to David Comissiong.
Comissiong’s Version Of “Integrity Legislation” Is Incomplete, Flawed
- Nothing about Conflict of Interest rules that would prohibit a politician from awarding a government contract to family members or friends.
- Nothing about Integrity Laws and standards that would prohibit a politician or government employee from profiting as a result of their inside knowledge or actions in government service.
- Nothing about Freedom of Information laws requiring government to grant public access to information so that any interested citizen has the tools and knowledge to unmask crooked politicians and government officials.
- Nothing about enforcement, penalties or empowering an oversight body with real authority to investigate and lay charges.
- Nothing about bidding requirements for government contracts.
Integrity Legislation Is Not Rocket-Science Or A New Invention
As we have said before on many occasions, Barbados politicians have had decades to create and implement integrity legislation. Both major parties have promised to do so as far back as 30 years ago – but none have done so despite being in a majority government position of power.
The reason we don’t already have effective integrity legislation, freedom of information laws and conflict of interest rules is that Barbados politicians don’t want such restraints put upon their corrupt activities!
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Owen Arthur Was Once An Honest Man
When Owen Arthur entered politics, he was an honest man who wanted to do some good for his country.
That was true for most folks who entered politics in the past. It was also true that folks in the past knew right from wrong, and good from evil. Even if they didn’t always do the right thing, they knew they were doing wrong when they crossed the line.
But over the years with no rules and no standards to keep them on the narrow path, Owen Arthur and the other politicians lost sight of the boundaries. The “grey areas” of acceptable behaviours grew larger and larger every year that such corrupt behaviour went unchecked – until Barbados reached the point where we are at now.
The current government of Barbados is the most corrupt group of individuals that has ever governed this country. After three terms they have refined corruption to new levels never before achieved on this island. They award construction contracts large and small to family members and friends. They maintain illegal offshore assets and bank accounts. They deposit “campaign donations” into their personal bank accounts and never have to account to anyone.
They do all this not because they started out as corrupt people, but because without laws NO ONE can resist such temptation and power.
And that is why, my friends, that merely electing a new group of citizens to govern us will not solve anything in the long term.
No Country Can Stay Independent, Healthy And Free With Our Level Of Corruption
Barbados as a country and as a society cannot withstand the current levels of corruption by our elected and appointed government officials. Without effective Integrity Legislation, Freedom of Information laws, Conflict of Interest rules and empowering citizens and oversight bodies to investigate and charge corrupt government officials, Barbados will continue to be dragged down, down, down.
From the Nation News…
Comissiong Calls For Integrity Legislation
Published on: 11/14/07.PRESIDENT OF the People’s Empowerment Party (PEP), David Comissiong, is calling for integrity legislation in Barbados.
This requires politicians to declare assets before they go into office and the assets audited after they leave office. He asked the Electoral and Boundaries Commission to publish all contributions in the local media periodically.
Comissiong was speaking at a Press conference to announce his public education campaign for Independence. It was held at the Clement Payne Centre, Crumpton Street, The City, on Tuesday.
“We are calling for a system to be put in place that obligates all political parties, all candidates to disclose to the Electoral and Boundaries Commission all financial contributions in excess of $1 000 that they have received.
“We are saying that this nonsense about elite businesses being able to finance their own special parties and special candidates so they can exercise influence over the government; that practice must be exposed to public view.”
Comissiong said Canada had introduced a regulation, where any political contribution above a certain limit must be divulged in a number of days to the authorities or it was forfeited.
A report showing the contributions is also published periodically.
… read the original article online at The Nation News (link here)
17 Comments
November 15, 2007 at 3:10 pm
I would like to provide some information on this issue. PM Arthur, in his speech at the 69th Annual Conference of the BLP, spoke specifically about the issue of intergity legislation. He talked about the fact that Barbados had signed the UN Convention against corruption in 2003…Yes that is correct, however they haven’t ratified it. In fact the only country bout here that has ratified it is Antigua! Arthur talks about how his government had “hoped” that they would by now be in a position to put in new and modern legislation based on the UN Convention, and that IF it doesn’t reach Parliament in time before an election is called, it will be the first order of business!
Secondly he refered to the fact that the Financial Administration and Audit Act has been amended to make Ministers personally liable in cases where their decisions lead to a waste or reckless abuse of public funds….Does anyone out there have any information on how a case can be filed on this and whether any have been????
He also said that David Thompson, as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, has the authority vested in him to carry out any probe into any company the Government controls. If this is true, why hasn’t an inquiry been called, or perhaps, the other question is what “evidence” is required before an inquiry is made. Also, who pays for these inquiries, and how independent are they?
I am just asking.
November 15, 2007 at 3:52 pm
This is one Legislation that politician will keep far from. This is like submitting Financial ledgers of all your dealings for public scrutiny. Please, don’t get me wrong, many of our politicians are lawyers, doctors, engineers etc. Remember, these people’s representatives have a life after a defeat. David Comissiong has no problem, because he will never be able to win a seat unless he is a member of the two political parties. Why should I lie to build someone’s ego.
November 15, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Those who were present would have to say whether what he SAID was lacking or whether what was REPORTED was lacking. I have lost all faith in what is printed in the newspapers, either the print or on-line editions.
I have been at functions/gatherings/events when what is reported as being said was not what was said at all.
November 15, 2007 at 5:03 pm
The BIG sad lie continues !
In the House Assembly on Tuesday…..Asscoll said all stakeholders were consulted !
Two ( 2 ) days later Steve Belle, president of COB says that some very disturbing aspects of the amended Credit Union legislation was never shown to him !
Oh what DECEPTION on the part of Asscoll and his BLP charlatans !
And that DRUNKARD begging for 15 more years…..or even 5……?
He better carry his…..ASS….COLL from ’bout here !
November 15, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Excuse me, while I agree with what was said on PEP’s inane and anti-intellectual leader COMMISSIONG! (poor ting) and his new revelation. What is your point regarding Arthur and why the contrast of him in 1994 and 13 yrs later? I do not see how that affects integrity legislation. Stay on point people. Is this a yellow rag gossip coumn or a news blog, aka citizen journalism. Get some RSS feeds too. Real Simple Syndication aka del;icio;us, technorati. facebook etc. Or have u never heqard of that?
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Hello from BFP
Perhaps we didn’t explain ourselves clearly enough. The contrast in Owen Arthur then and now is to show that despite all good intentions, without rules he turned corrupt. Rules, laws may have prevented that.
All the rules and laws in the world will not reform a thief… but they will keep an good person on the narrow path of honesty.
November 15, 2007 at 11:49 pm
Heard on TV tonight from David Thompson that the plan is to take the no confidence motion to “the people” on Sunday night coming and if he receives approbation, then he plans to take it to parliament.
I believe I understood him to say he was doing the same with integrity legislation but didn’t catch everything he said. Would be interesting if the two are somehow tied together!!
Wasn’t listening well!!
Anyone else hear him?
I’ll see if I can get anything off the CBC web site.
November 16, 2007 at 10:54 am
John, I heard him, but it came out a little tongue-in-cheek, and he had a mischievous smile on his face. That doesn’t mean that what he said wasn’t genuine, but it made me wonder!
November 16, 2007 at 1:21 pm
David Commission should go home and sleep. Reasons are as follows:
1. He has the commendable distinction of being a
member off all 3 parties.
2. He doesn’t seem to be able to get along with anyone for too long-
3. He is not a team player
4. When he was a member of the “gravy train” his “silence was loud”
5.At that time he forgot his “brothers’ in the Wayside Vendors
Mr. Commissiong appears to very vocal and caring when in opposition, but this does not match his actions when he was in government.
Just another politician fooling the public and eagerly waiting for “his turn”
November 16, 2007 at 7:04 pm
The following is a slightly out of context with the overarching title of discussion and associated points, but it highlights an increasing lack of trust that can be awarded to the ruling party of the Barbados Government.
This is to make ALL CITIZENS aware of a very low key project being undertaken by the LAND TAX DEPARTMENT, and should be taken very seriously. The directive ’supposedly’ has come from the Commissioner in the Department, but information was accidentally stated by personnel within the Department during further research to have received the directive from the PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE.
The Land Tax Department has been sending representatives out in the field to “collect data” on wall houses in Barbados. This collection of data is being executed by an official from the department taking photographs of wall houses during normal office hours, as most persons are busy behind their desk at work……and of course there is good sunlight during the daytime.
It was discovered that “collecting this data” was to update and provide visual reference in the Valuation Database of the properties in times of query and uncertainty about its value, (query and uncertainty by the person who lives in the very same house)…….hmmmm.
A number of persons were MADE TO BELIEVE that notification of this project was announced by the GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES (GIS), who upon being contacted, both the Audio and Visual Departments, were unaware of such a notification and were equally shocked of an activity of such disregard.
The irony is that GIS is located in the PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE. Also, as expected, several unsuccessful attempts were made to contact the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner in the LAND TAX DEPARTMENT……..how shocking.
On the very same day of the discovery of this activity, the 12:30 news played a short excerpt from a speech made by the Prime Minister at a function attended by the Prime Minister the prior day. In this excerpt he stated that the cost of land in Barbados has been high for the past 20 years (wow….ya really think so) and PROPERTY VALUES for MANY PROPERTIES HAVE INCREASED MORE THAN 100% OVER THAT SAME PERIOD……..isn’t this all a bit too coincidental my fellow Bajans.
From my simple mind, the common thread that connects all of this together is the COST OF PROPERTY TAXES IN BARBADOS and government seeking to get more money from the ever growing poor and struggling population who works and sacrifices to make a BETTER living for themselves and their families.
The sinister thing about it is the lack of communication and transparency to the people, intentionally not informing the people, misrepresenting the good name and role of GIS and playing with something as SERIOUS AS PEOPLES’ PERSONAL PROPERTIES. Probably then to spring the surprise on the people sometime in the future.
THESE ARE THE HALLMARKS OF CORRUPTION IN ITS MATURITY……
A BETTER INFORMED SOCIETY IS A MORE EMPOWERED SOCIETY. IGNORANCE IS NO LONGER THE HOUR OF THE DAY.
November 16, 2007 at 9:52 pm
This type of confirmation of the value of people’s property is nothing new. This is done in many parts of the world. With the intervention of computers, it would be appropriate for the Land Tax Department to take physical pictures of structures to ensure that owners do not improve their homes, especially those that are deferred from paying Land Tax. This will help the department to monitor properties, what we have to look at, is the department using interim pricing of properties based on pictures received.
What we have to find out …Will the photographers be the actual valuers or would we these be valued by someone different?
November 19, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Simply put I would like the DLP to tell Owing that he is a coward simple and plain.
Why has he chosen to run from the debates since the budget because he is a coward,a debate on a serious matter that affects the credit unions he entrust this to a liar a thief and a clown to manage.
This just about sums up the state of affairs in this island, everything is on autopilot and the boat is adrift heading no where with no Captain and actually no 1st mate either.
November 19, 2007 at 11:58 pm
Frankology says ……”This is done in many parts of the world.”This is done in many parts of the world.
This is probably an attempt at matket value assesment which if adopted could cause a problem for the lower to middle class person trying to move from wood, to wood and wall to wall.
People should not be penalised by government for improving their homes.
I guess Big Brother is watching.
November 20, 2007 at 12:12 am
Hants, another reason why the Land Tax Department going in this direction, is to take pictures of open spaces belonging to owners and keying it in within the owners file on the computer. You might be surprise that this picture might be attached to home owners file at the Town Planning department.
Have you realised that you can go at any Pay Sure outlet, give your name and presto, your Water Bill, Light & Power, Telephone or Natural Gas information will there. This brings me back to when people visit your community with census papers, maybe, this information might be logged into a main frame that can be access by various governmental departments.
November 20, 2007 at 12:15 am
We might be looking at certain people with properties under a certain value who were given reprieved, being confronted with a surprise billing shortly.
November 20, 2007 at 12:20 am
There could also be a good use for the photographs.
CERO could use them for disaster management planning.
November 20, 2007 at 12:30 am
Frankology…. thanks to the internet, Government can no longer carry out these types of “surveys” without word spreading to the citizens.
A blog is a powerful thing.
I am convinced that BFP’s pursuit of “Integrity Legislation” forced the hand of David Thompson.”
I know he was hoping to keep it closer to Elections but BFP would not ease up.
Now the BLP is going to get SuperOwen to announce that they will introduce and pass their version of an “Integrity Legislation Bill” before the next Election.
November 20, 2007 at 12:56 am
Are you aware of the payment of bills by just giving your name? I need answer. Yes or No.