Phillips calls for single anti-corruption agency

Thursday, August 26, 2010

OPPOSITION Member of Parliament and former National Security Minister Dr Peter Phillips says a single anti-corruption agency is imperative in the fight to weed out corruption in the public domain, especially amongst those serving in politics.

"I believe that we need to do more on the whole issue of sanction and anti-corruption efforts. I am supportive of the view that there should be a single, anti-corruption entity that would incorporate the Parliamentary Integrity Commission, the Corruption Prevention Commission and probably include the functions now performed by the Office of the Contractor General...," Phillips said.

Phillips, was speaking at this week's Observer Monday Exchange at the newspaper's head office on Beechwood Avenue in Kingston.

According to Dr Phillips, the head of such an agency must have special powers and should do more than just produce a report.

"I think you need the powers of a special prosecutor to head such an agency, and I think that you would also need to have its own investigative arm...," Phillips said.

He said that he was operating on the principle that such an agency allowed for the determination if there was a clear and present danger amongst individuals offering to serve. He said these powers must be given for someone not to just send out a report, but to search out legalities.

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COMMENTS (15)

8/26/2010

The quest to 'fight to weed out corruption in the public domain, especially amongst those serving in politics' is not only a necessary one but should be in principle enshrined in the Constitution of Jamaica. However, rather than having a single agency I submit that we should, through parliament/constitution, strengthen the Dept of Public Prosecutions and the Legislature to 'search out legalities' with the power to prosecute or impeach (political officer) if action is brought by the Legislature.

lens fletcher
8/26/2010

superintendent bigga ford is getting death treats!whast next?criminals seems to have the upper hand!

barry brown
8/26/2010

Anthony Johnson check your history, how old is dudus. remember when Reneto try to dismantle TG who protect the terrorist them in TG

Jacqueline Samms
8/26/2010

And it should have teeth

Nina Nais
8/26/2010

@ric bent: How is it "more bureaucracy" to do away with THREE agencies, and create ONE to replace them??? I think it's a good idea - streamline and consolidate things - make it easier for the entities to share info and cooperate with each other.

Anthony Johnson
8/26/2010

Texroy for your information,Dudus came to prominence under a PNP government with security ministers KD Knight and Peter Phillips.What did they do to stop the guns coming in the island.?Nothing,so don't play politics now.Because Peter is in opposition he will say anything now but wait until he is in power you will see if he is transformed or he is just Yap Yap Yap.

David Armstrong
8/26/2010

Dr. Phillips has been doing a lot of talking recently while his boss remains very quiet...is there a rift in the party or is a leadership coup eminent? His ideas are OK but they accomplish nothing other than geting news media coverage. Dr. Phillips and other MPs should introduce bills in parliament that incorporate their ideas instead of just talking. We have had enough bantering from these MPs (one wants to be an informer and one rejects dons) it is time they take real action to get things done

Stephen Fox
8/26/2010

Dr Phillips is only trying once again the put a bandage over the problem. We have had 48 years of quick fixes. Please look at the constitution and the libel laws if you want to advance our country. We need greater separation of powers between legislation and administration. The Governor general should be an elected office with independent powers. The senate should be an elected office. Parlimentarians should have term limits. JLPNP need to do some real work instead of offering lip service.

Texroy Davidson
8/26/2010

Nicolas Henry. Can you please stop the politicking and look at the real issues. First and foremost, if you can remember some of the most vicious Killers across Jamaica Report to Dudus. A recent case Doggie leader of the vicious stone crusher gang written on his loyalty to Coke. Who created coke the JLP. That is why he was defended using a international Law firm. Therefore Bruce party should be blamed for the 6000 guns.

ric bent
8/26/2010

Great, just what we need, more bureaucracy. It shoudl be good enough to enforce the current laws, if anything strengthen the prosecutors office so they can more aggressively pursue the thieves.
Ignorance is so costly, the man on the street has no idea how much corruption is costing the country, therby stifling development.

Chuck Emanuel
8/26/2010

I do concur !. However we need to go much further than this in terms of real structural and revolutionary changes like constitutional reforms, with a view of providing complete separation of Cabinet from the Parliament and the Justice System. Under this system, people will be appointed to key positions in Government with the approval of Parliament, and the MP's in Parliament will be accountable to local Assemblies at the Constituency level armed with the right to impeach an MP before elections.

Nicolas Henry
8/26/2010

Peter Phillips the former minister of national secuity, whose only job was, & is to secure the seats of he & his comrades in GORDON HOUSE. What a mess. 6 thousand guns on our shores, & are in the hands of brutal, merciless killers. Jamaican people, I do thank him for exposing Bruce's SHENANIGANS, but he shouldn't be rewarded with a seat in GORDON HOUSE. Can't you people see how the guns are killing our people. are we a bunch of MASOCHIST?

otis grant
8/26/2010

i am still trying to figure out why everything this guy says is news for the public? the observer is campaigning real hard for the PNP, lol. tell us about real news affecting the lives of jamaicans, the damn bad roads, police killings, long lines outside bookstores currently for back to school purchases, high bank charges. do better observer people will look back years from now and wonder what the hell you were about.

Duncan Bertram
8/26/2010

Jamaicans do not have a problem with Greg Christie, we dont want to see his powers watered down, if anything we would prefer he be given more power to prosecute. People need jobs and corruption in the public domain is rampant now, encourage people of integrity to join the necessary agencies that fight against corruption and weed out the bad apples. Systems are in place already, but the leaders must be seen as clean so it can trickle down to the rest of public servants. Bruce Golding must go.

george watson
8/26/2010

I think this is an excellent idea and would obviate the need for more political parties. This agency could be headed by Greg Christie (or if we could find somebody like him, with both integrity and zeal) with a team of investigators (lawyers), somewhat similar to the DPP's office.
This appointment would be similar to Judges of the Supreme Court and tenure would not be decided by politicians.
Investigations could be triggered by individuals who have or think they know about corruption.

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Phillips calls for single anti-corruption agency