THE Senate yesterday delayed completing debate on the Integrity Commission Act, 2017, despite general agreement inside the chamber and calls from outside for urgency.

There was no indication when the debate would continue, up to when the sitting ended.

Senate President Tom Tavares-Finson told the Jamaica Observer last night that today’s agenda would focus on the crime Bill, the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures Act), which was passed in the House of Representatives on June 29.

Senator Tavares-Finson said that the integrity Bill’s completion could only be accommodated after the crime Bill. However, a lengthy debate of that Bill, which is likely today, seems set to make it an impossible task.

But, Leader of Opposition Business Senator Mark Golding said that the Opposition supported the Bill. He recalled that it had its genesis during the previous administration, in which he served as minister of justice.

“We did a substantive amount of work on it, as did the joint select committee, when it came to Parliament,” Senator Golding reminded the Senate.

“I am very pleased to see that it has come to this point, and I am happy that the Government has decided to pursue it, because it is very important that we try and put the effective institutional arrangements in place to deal with corruption,” he added.

He said that he was sure that the Act would have a solitary effect on the behaviour of public officials and improve the confidence of Jamaicans that their taxes are being spent for the benefit of the entire country.

“So we support this Bill, and we look forward to its passage, subject to a few improvements which the Senate is in a position to make,” said Golding, after raising concerns about some provisions in the Bill.

Minister of Education, Youth and Information Senator Ruel Reid assured the Opposition that there would be no “unnecessary haste” in passing the Bill. He said that they would have enough time to have their concerns addressed.

He said that the Act would enable Jamaica to renew its focus on consolidating the reporting and investigative arrangements for dealing with corruption, and should go a long way in rooting out some of the deep problems facilitating it.

“It should also help to dispel the perception that corruption among public officials is just a cultural thing which we have to live with,” Reid said.

“We don’t view that in Jamaica it is ‘no problem’ and ‘everything goes’ and everything is acceptable: We are not a ‘banana republic’,” Senator Reid insisted.

Senator K D Knight (Opposition) also gave the Bill his full support, although he blamed the private sector for much of the corruption within the country.

“Corruption is not confined to the public sector, or public officials. It is deep in the public sector, as it is deep in the private sector,” Knight argued.

“On many occasions the transaction is between public and private sector, and some people see it as a way of doing business. They don’t really see it as something bad. They feel wronged to be brought to justice,” Senator Knight argued.

“And I will tell you some of them who you hear making a whole lot of noise about corruption in the public sector are some of the most corrupt beasts roaming this country; and some of them who are pontificating, they have a history of corrupt behaviour,” he added.

Knight insisted that corruption was pervasive, but it should not be tolerated. However, he felt that the Bill had the ingredients that could help to contain it.

Opposition member Lambert Brown said that he did not agree that the response to either crime or corruption should be more or new legislation.

“I am of the view that what is needed is rigorous enforcement of existing laws,” Brown said.

Government Senator Charles Sinclair appealed for Jamaicans to be holistic in their involvement in the fight against corruption.

“While they demand higher standards from public officials and politicians, they must do so for themselves and also hold their neighbours to a higher level of integrity,” Sinclair said.

The Senate resumes this morning at 10 o’clock.