by Kevon Browne
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, during the next sitting of the National Assembly, will introduce and have read for the first time the Smoking (Designated Areas) Bill, 2023; Drugs (Prevention and Abatement of the Misuse and Abuse of Drugs) (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and Rastafari Rights Recognition Bill, 2023.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Hon. Garth Wilkin, will introduce and have read for the first time the Nevis Island Administration (Civil Proceedings) Bill, 2023; Crown Proceedings (Amendment) Bill, 2023; Whistleblowers Protection Bill, 2023; Unauthorized Disclosure of Official Information Bill, 2023; Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
The Attorney General will then move the second reading of the Nevis Island Administration (Civil Proceedings) Bill, 2023, and Crown Proceedings (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
“The Anti Corruption Act, Integrity in Public Life Amendment Act, the Freedom of Information Amendment Act and the Official Gazette Act have been passed and gazetted. An acting ombudsman has been appointed and is seated in the office. We are also seeking to recruit a Special Prosecutor, as well as an Information Commissioner, to sit in those important offices. And to complete that process, we’ll be presenting to Parliament the Whistleblowers Act as well as an Unauthorised Disclosure of Official Information Act. That will hopefully close the circle so that we can spend the next few weeks educating the civil service [people] on statutory boards about their rights and responsibilities under this new paradigm of the good governance transformation that this administration is bringing to our country so that there will be no excuses when the switch is flipped. Everyone will understand their rights. Everybody will understand their responsibilities, and we will be going forward in a sustainable way – in a transparent and accountable way as has been promised by this administration,” said the AG during the May 18 Prime Minister’s press conference.
The Whistleblowers Protection Bill would aim to deter and combat corruption and other improper conduct by encouraging and facilitating disclosures of corrupt acts while protecting anyone who makes the disclosures.
In contrast, the Unauthorized Disclosure of Official Information will seek to deter and create penalties for the unauthorised disclosure of official government information by public servants and contractors of the government.
The sitting of the National Assembly will convene on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at 10:00 am.
