PSOJ urges Gov’t, Opposition to sign Code of Conduct

ARGUING THAT the Integrity Commission’s Leadership Code of Conduct stands as a legitimate universal guideline for parliamentary behaviour, the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) has urged the Government and Opposition to sign the document and have it instituted without further delay.

The PSOJ acknowledged that the Integrity Commission has been mandated to develop and enforce anti-corruption legislation, policy, and initiatives.

In that regard, the private sector body said that the anti-corruption entity must receive unwavering support from both the Government and the Opposition in its efforts to establish a code of conduct, which at its core, calls for elected officials to operate at the highest standards of transparency.

At present, Opposition Leader Mark Golding and 13 members of his shadow Cabinet have signed the Code of Conduct.

However, despite receiving an invitation from the commission to sign the code some seven months ago, Prime Minister Andrew Holness is yet to sign the document.

To date, no member of his Cabinet has inked the code.

“Moreover, in keeping with its recent strides to institutionalise anti-corruption and accountability measures such as the Public Bodies Management and Accountability Act and the Corporate Governance Database for Prospective Directors, we call on the Government to remain consistent in upholding these values by signing the Code of Conduct,” the PSOJ said yesterday in a statement.

According to the PSOJ, by signing the code the country’s leaders will send a clear and distinct signal that they are committed to upholding the highest standards of good governance.

“This act will serve as a unifying force, transcending political boundaries,” the PSOJ added.

ARBITRARY PUBLIC PRONOUNCEMENTS

The PSOJ has also warned against the politicisation of the code. It urged the Government and Opposition to refrain from making arbitrary public pronouncements and grandstanding regarding the code and the ongoing process to amend the Integrity Commission Act.

“Our leaders must allow the duly appointed Joint Select Committee to manage the process of reviewing the Integrity Commission Act currently before Parliament. We urge all elected officials to treat the discussions about the Act and the required signing of the Leadership Code of Conduct with the due respect befitting this crucial component of our democracy.”

The PSOJ also renewed its call for the passage of Constitution Impeachment Amendment Act, 2021, in Parliament.

“If the Government wants to address our prevailing corruption crisis and show that it is serious about holding elected officials accountable, this must be a top priority in 2023.”

It contended that the passage of this bill is indispensable in holding the country’s politicians responsible for the misuse of public resources and neglecting their duties, which is invariably linked to ethical behaviour as outlined in the Code of Conduct.

When lawmakers in the nation’s Parliament debated the Integrity Commission Act in 2017 one of the provisions they gave the nod to is Section 6 (1)(g) which gives the anti-corruption body the mandate “to prepare codes of conduct and other advisory material relating to corruption”.

The Integrity Commission has argued that while there was no legal requirement placed on any official to commit to the Code of Conduct, their formal subscription to the stated principles “will obviously be a clear demonstration to the people of Jamaica of the standards of integrity, governance and accountability that they are prepared to submit themselves to as holders of the highest public offices in Jamaica.

“Likewise, and conversely, a failure to formally commit to the code would also signal to Jamaicans, the type of leadership that they should not expect from the country’s highest public officeholders,” the commission stated.