ANTI-CORRUPTION BILL, 2023 WILL ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN PUBLIC OFFICE

Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 22, 2023 (SKNIS): The Anti-Corruption Bill, 2023 was read for the second time in the National Assembly by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, the Hon. Garth Wilkin, on February, 22, 2023. The Attorney General described the piece of legislation as a critical component in developing St. Kitts and Nevis into a sustainable island state.
 
“It gives me great joy and pride to be given the opportunity by elected friends and colleagues to declare loudly and clearly for all to share, Kittians and Nevisians home and abroad that good governance is finally here.  Whilst persons outside this building seek to distract our people in every way imaginable, we are working diligently behind the scenes in every arm of Government to ensure that the sustainable island state envisioned by our leader, the Honourable Prime Minister and Member for Number Eight (8) can soon become a reality. Transparency and accountability are finally being a part of our societal and political DNA. The opaque, clandestine and corrupt style of governance of our recent past has finally come to an end,” said A.G Wilkin.
 
The Anti-Corruption legislation is geared at ensuring that public officials operate in a transparent manner in relation to public spending and procurement and in relation to gifts received in the capacity of their public office. The Attorney General spoke to the amount of work it took to draft such a critical piece of legislation, remarking that St. Kitts and Nevis will be better positioned once the legislation is passed.
 
“Creating revolutionary legislation is not easy; it involves late nights, family life sacrifices and sometimes walking alone in the dark night on a lonely path through the raging storm of constant personal attacks from the enemies of a mature democracy. This is not an easy job Madam speaker but the sacrifices made now will benefit generations of Kittians and Nevisians to come and everything happens for a reason…We on this side know that we are doing good for our people. The advancement of our people is our top priority. This Anti-Corruption Bill, if it receives safe passage, will signal a new day and a better way forward for our people,” said Attorney General Wilkin.
 
The Staff of the Attorney General’s Chambers were thanked for their work in ensuring that the Anti-Corruption Bill, 2023, was ready for a successful second reading before the honourable House.