KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Advocates Network is the latest entity to join the National Integrity Action (NIA), the Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal (JAMP) and the Integrity Commission (IC) in calling for the removal of the ‘gag clause’.

In a release, the Advocates Network said that “at a time when …public confidence in the actions of government officials is at an all-time low, knowledge that corrupt actions are being investigated can contribute to restoring public confidence.”

In her presentation to the Joint Select Committee of Parliament on Wednesday, July 6, JAMP’s Executive Director, Jeanette Calder, indicated that despite the creditable inroads made in the formation of a single anti-corruption agency, there are gaps that have led to the disbanding of access to our Government online contract award database and the blockage of public access to information on Parliamentarians being prosecuted under this anti-corruption legislation.

“This weakens the efforts and investment made to fight corruption,” she noted.

The “gag clause,” prohibits the IC from informing the public about “the initiation or conduct of an investigation under the Act.”

The Advocates Network outlined that with taxpayers projected to fork out some $1.15 billion to support the work of the Integrity Commission this year, public confidence is needed, not only to ensure that government officials act with integrity, but also to ensure that the IC is doing its job in investigating suspected acts of corruption.

On Sunday, the IC piled on pressure on the nation’s parliamentarians to remove the ‘gag’ or ‘muzzle’ clause in the Integrity Commission Act, which prevents the IC from commenting publicly on ongoing investigations involving public officials.

READ: Integrity Commission slams ‘ridiculous’ gag clause

Labelling the retention of the clause “ridiculous”, the IC says the latter is inimical to the public interest and the public good.