Anti-Corruption Commission will have a high level of confidentiality and informers will be well protected, says the Chair of the Commission
September 30, 2016
The Anti-Corruption Commission met for the first time yesterday at State Houseand the Chairman, Judge Gaswaga said that the commission will have a high level of confidentiality and informers will be well protected. This is to encourage people to be confident enough to come forward with concrete evidence to report corruption practices.
Judge Gaswaga said members of the public will soon be informed when they can start submitting their complaints and following its meeting yesterday, Judge Gaswaga said the commission is in the process of finding an office and building a strong team including a suitable person to assume the position of chief executive.
“The whole exercise will be transparent and fair and applications for this and other jobs in response to our adverts will be received and considered on merit. We shall also soon let you know our website and contacts, and address once we find a suitable home for the commission,” Judge Gaswaga pointed out.
The commission is comprised of four other members; lawyer Daniel Belle (vice-chairperson), lawyer Priscille Chetty, retired journalist Marie-Claire Elizabeth and businessman Hardy Lucas. President James Michel appointed the five- member commission early last month. It will work closely with the Attorney General’s office, the Ombusman, the police, Ethic Commission among other stakeholders, will receive complaints from any person or entity, investigate, detect and prevent practices linked to corruption in both the public and private sector.
Strategies on public awareness and education on the negative effects of corruption (in schools, on TV and Radio, through seminars, internet etc) will be part of their responsibility and it is expected that the commission will have its own structure, budget and taskforce to enable it to conduct investigations.
The National Assembly enacted the ‘Anti-Corruption Law No. 6 of 2016’ in March this year, which provided for the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Commission.