Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis – Prime Minister, Dr Terrence Drew, made his official visit to the Office of the Integrity Commission at Liverpool Row, Basseterre, St Kitts, on October 5 Wednesday, and and was accompanied by its Chairperson, Retired High Court Judge, Pearletta Lanns and other Integrity Commissioners.
In his visit, the Chairperson of the country introduced Prime Minister to St Kitts and Nevis Integrity Commissioners, who were present there in order to meet with the Attorney-General and in that meeting, they discussed the ideas created from the swift implementation of the Government’s Anti-Corruption legislative agenda.
The government also came up with a new Anti-Corruption Act that envisions the appointment of a Special Prosecutor to analyze and carry out criminal acts of corruption throughout the Civil Service, Statutory Boards and Government-Owned Companies, subject to the constitutional powers of the Director of Public Prosecution.
The St Kitts Integrity Commission is basically a body which was established by the Integrity in Public Life Act, including a chairperson, who is actually predicted to be a retired judge or an attorney-at-law of around fifteen years standing, appointed by the Governor-General acting in his or her own deliberate judgment and two other persons designated by the Governor-General after discussed with the Prime Minister as well as the Leader of the Opposition, respectively.
St Kitts and Nevis Integrity Commission will serve for a period of five years and will serve those who carry higher Integrity, diligence, sound judgement, exercise competence and neutrality in fulfilling their duties under to the provisions of the Act.
After the official visit to the Office of the Integrity Commission, Prime Minister stated in an interview, “Once we start going on the path to becoming good governance, it will automatically allow the country to unleash its full potential. We want to create a new paradigm. It is definitely time-consuming, but we are working hard to make it happen soon.”
Furthermore, he continued by saying that “we want to create a unique country which is followed by many.”
The St. Kitts Integrity Commissioners are Retired Pearletta Lanns, Chairperson, Carol Boddie and Dennis “Freddie” Knight. The Nevis Integrity Commissioners are Ricaldo Caines, Chairman of the Commission, G. Sydney Newton, and Alford Tyrell.
The Nevis Integrity Commissioners are specified pursuant to the Nevis Integrity in Public Life Ordinance. Attorney General, Garth Wilkin, described that “The Act of Freedom first passed in 2018, and would finally come in the process and allow access to the press and public to non-confidential Government information and to protect whistle-blowers”.
Moreover, He informed about his meeting with the Press Association on Friday, October 7 2022, in which their main motive was to discuss possible recommendations.
