Recently, Dr Terrence Drew, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis visited the Office of the Integrity Commission at Liverpool Row, Basseterre, St Kitts, on Wednesday, October 5, 2022.
The office Chairperson, Retired High Court Judge, Her Ladyship Pearletta Lanns and other Integrity Commissioners gave the Prime Minister, Dr Terrence Drew, a brief tour of the office.
During the visit to the office, The Chairperson of the office introduced Prime Minister Dr Terrence Drew to the
St Kitts Integrity Commissioners.
The leaders had a brief discussion upon the ideas emerging from the speedy execution of the Government’s Anti-Corruption legislative agenda.
In addition, the government of St. Kitts and Nevis suggested an Anti-Corruption Act which anticipates the appointment of a Special Prosecutor to probe and prosecute 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 an organization set up by the Integrity in Public Life Act. The organization includes a chairperson, who is obliged to be a retired Judge or an attorney-at-law of at least fifteen years; one should be appointed by the Governor-General acting in their deliberate judgment and two other persons appointed by the Governor-General after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.
The St. Kitts Integrity Commission will be serving for five years. The appointed person must be of high integrity, capable of exercising competence, diligence, sound judgment and impartiality in fulfilling their duties according to the provisions of the Act.
In one of the interviews, Prime Minister Dr Terrence Drew said, “once we start on the path of good governance, it will allow the country to unleash its full potential.”
In addition, the PM of St Kitts and Nevis said, “we want to create that new paradigm. It takes time, but we are working quickly to ensure we get it right.”
The appointed commissioners of The St. Kitts Integrity comprise Her Ladyship (Retired) Pearletta Lanns, Chairperson, Ms Carol Boddie and Mr Dennis “Freddie” Knight. The Nevis Integrity Commissioners are Mr Ricaldo Caines, Chairman of the Commission, Mr G. Sydney Newton, and Mr Alford Tyrell.
The Nevis Integrity Commissioners are appointed according to the Nevis Integrity in Public Life Ordinance.
While expressing their thoughts, Garth Wilkin added that “The Freedom of Information Act, passed in
2018, will finally be operationalized to allow access to the press and public to non-confidential Government information and to protect whistle-blowers.”
