FORMER Security Minister Peter Phillips on Wednesday called for an urgent review of the Corruption Prevention Act.

“I use the opportunity to urge again the leadership of the House to undertake a review of the Corruption Prevention Act. It is required by law, and we are in breach of the law and it needs to be urgently done,” Phillips told a meeting of a Joint Select Committee of Parliament to consider the reports from several state agencies, including the Corruption (Prevention) Commission which is governed under the Act.

The law, which was enacted in 2000, was amended two years later to provide for a review, with a stipulation that the first review should be conducted not later than three years after May 1, 2001. Failure to do so constitutes a violation of the Act.

Also, the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption is required by law to have its annual report tabled in Parliament and the review of its operation is also the prerogative of Parliament.

Under the Act, public officials who earn in excess of $2 million per year, or who hold particularly sensitive positions, are required by law to file an account of their assets and earnings annually.

Phillips, in assuming that a select committee would be set up to review the law, said it would benefit from any recommendations which would be made by the committee.

The House, in March of 2006 under the former People’s National Party administration, approved a resolution calling for the establishment of a joint select committee to conduct a review of the Corruption Prevention Act and the operations of the Corruption Prevention Commission.

The resolution had been brought before the House by then opposition leader, Bruce Golding, in 2005. The committee, however, did not meet hence there was no review.

In the meantime, the committee chaired by deputy House speaker Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, has decided to review the 2005 report of the Corruption Prevention Commission as its first order of business

Committee members are senators Hyacinth Bennett, Arthur Williams, Don Wehby, Mark Golding, Basil Waite and MPs Maxine Henry-Wilson, Dr Peter Phillips, Ernest Smith, Desmond Mair, Franklyn Witter, Tarn Peralto and Fitz Jackson.

Among the reports to be considered by the body are those of the Office of the Contractor General, Office of the Public Defender, Office of the Political Ombudsman, the Integrity Commission, Ofice of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Office of the Children’s Advocate.

Suggestions were that the committee operate in a manner similar to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, which, in considering the reports on public bodies, summons the relevant individuals to be present to clarify related issues.