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Purely Dominica

Purely Dominica


In the past 6 to 7 weeks the issue of implementing the Integrity Act in Dominica has been the main topic on nearly all forms of traditional media in Dominica; whether it’s radio talk show, local television programming, and the word on the streets.

With repeated calls for the Labour government to implement the integrity in public office act of 2003 (which the Labour Party introduced in parliament), along with a petition (which is the idea of the former attorney general David and supported by all opposition groups), containing an excess of 5000 signatures of Dominicans here and abroad urging the hasty implementation of the law in Dominica.

Despite the fact that the former Dominica Member of Parliament has dismissed statements by economic development Minister Julius Timothy that integrity legislation is too expensive for the country. And when questioned about the increased pressure for the act’s implementation Skerrit said, “Pressured about what? We have work to do.

But just short of a month, after PM Skerrit told the media that his government won’t be pressured in implementing the Integrity Act, he announced that he has gave the go ahead – to start all the necessary proceedings leading up to the implementation of the act in Dominica.

———— Personal Note ————-

I personally, I’m surprised that the labour government took so long on this Integrity Art, when they were the ones fighting to implement the act while the UWP (United Workers Party) was in power. I can also recall the labour party government 2005 election campaign, which was base totally on suspected corruption on the part of the UWP.

I believe the Integrity Act is a great move for Dominica and it’s in the best interest of all Dominicans here and abroad. It’s not a Political thing, it’s a Dominica thing.

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6 Comments »

Comment by Joel Halfwassen
2008-05-02 04:52:38

Okay…please explain the Integrity Act and what it means for Dominicans to those of us who have no clue.

Comment by Chris
2008-05-02 08:04:58

Joel,
My general understanding of the Integrity in Public Office Act – is that it’s piece of legislation which was passed in Dominica house of parliament in 2003. And if implemented it will improve in the conduct and behavior of all elected members of parliament, also anyone holding public office. One of the ways the Integrity in Public Office Act will govern all those in public office – if implemented (or when this law is implemented) everybody in public office will have to declare all their personal assets and income sources. As to who this information is submitted to I’m not certain. But this will certainly reduce in political corruption in Dominica.

Hope this help 🙂

Comment by Joel Halfwassen
2008-05-02 11:14:24

Much! Thank you!

 
Comment by Nashida Hilton
2008-06-27 12:07:20

i live in this country and it’s taken me almost a month and a half to actually find out what this Act is. Thanks.

 
 
 
Comment by Christian Volney
2008-06-18 15:33:07

Talking about acceptable protocol, I think it is necessary for the government of Dominica to provide greater opportunities for open, transparent, effective and proactive communications with all Dominicans by conveying information to the public in the basis of a well-planned, appropriate, timely and consistent approach.

Such transparencies in government can only serve to foster an improved level of trustworthiness by the public in their governance, an openness of which currently lacks substance by current standards.

One gets the feeling of a dearth, a scarcity of transparency in governance when it comes to “the discussion of integrity legislation”; a feeling of which has lead to a lingering uncertainty by the public over the last couple of governments in power, sincerity to adopt a timely and measured implementation position of the Act.

A suggestion of which is based primarily on the lack of a continuum of motivation for full implementation of the IPO Act by the government. More importantly of significance, is the inconsistent pressure by the opposition of its logical assertion in assuring the full implementation of the Act is at the forefront of each sitting of parliament.

This hypothesis can easily be tested if we are willing to adopt a concept of convergent validity. Convergent and discriminant validity are both considered subcategories or subtypes of construct validity. The important thing to recognize is that they work together — if you can demonstrate that you have evidence for both convergent and discriminant validity, then you’ve by definition demonstrated that you have evidence for construct validity. However, neither one alone is sufficient for establishing construct validity.

Based on my personal belief of the facts that I have gathered to date, I can conclude but one logical observation. The level of political hypocrisy and ongoing procrastination, together with the lack of openness, communication and accountability, with regards to the will of both, the government and the opposition, to see fit that an enacted and gazetted law be implemented, can only be construed as both parties being equally guilty of past and present corruption.

Transparency cannot exist as a purely one-way communication though. If the media and the public knows everything that happens in all authorities and Parish administrations there will be a lot of questions, protests and suggestions coming from media and the public. People who are interested in a certain issue will try to influence the decisions. Transparency creates an everyday participation in the political processes by media and the public. One tool used to increase everyday participation in political processes is Freedom of Information legislation and requests.

In summarization (of the facts as I see them), I must logically conclude that the current existing levels of deceit and corruption in our system of governance must be deep rooted and ongoing for quite sometime. The systematic erosion of our political system of governance compounded with the lack of trustworthiness of our politicians is in direct coloration to the procrastination of the Implementation of the Integrity in Public Office Act.

Moving forward, and for the purpose of expedition of implementation, I strongly suggest that full implementation of the act not be subjective or retroactive to any previous government or this current government being investigated on past allegations. The time to heal and move on is now and some things are better taken to the grave. We cannot break the cycle of deceit and corruption if we are not willing to forgive and move forward.

My opinion.

Gradibus ascendimus……”Ascending by degrees”

Christian Volney
A Son of Roseau

 
Comment by Nashida Hilton
2008-06-27 12:08:56

i totally agree…..

 
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