OPPOSITION Member of Parliament and former National Security Minister Dr Peter Phillips says a single anti-corruption agency is imperative in the fight to weed out corruption in the public domain, especially amongst those serving in politics.
“I believe that we need to do more on the whole issue of sanction and anti-corruption efforts. I am supportive of the view that there should be a single, anti-corruption entity that would incorporate the Parliamentary Integrity Commission, the Corruption Prevention Commission and probably include the functions now performed by the Office of the Contractor General…,” Phillips said.
Phillips, was speaking at this week’s Observer Monday Exchange at the newspaper’s head office on Beechwood Avenue in Kingston.
According to Dr Phillips, the head of such an agency must have special powers and should do more than just produce a report.
“I think you need the powers of a special prosecutor to head such an agency, and I think that you would also need to have its own investigative arm…,” Phillips said.
He said that he was operating on the principle that such an agency allowed for the determination if there was a clear and present danger amongst individuals offering to serve. He said these powers must be given for someone not to just send out a report, but to search out legalities.
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