Our democracy has been tried and tested since we gained Independence in 1962. In recent times, the Government appears to be at war with an instrument of its own creation, namely the Integrity Commission, which is designed to ensure there is no room for corruption across its ministries, departments, and agencies, including all those holding public office. There is the case of our prime minister and his statutory returns, other ministers, and, more recently as reported in the press, the matter of the Integrity Commission (IC) seeking access to files in the Ministry of Health and Wellness to assist in its investigations.

One does not have to go into detail to impress upon the powers that be that, in a democratic country such as ours, these proverbial stand-offs do more harm than good to the nation’s reputation. If the law needs to be fixed, then fix it. If, by virtue of its current provisions, there are issues affecting individual rights, then let these be resolved with urgency and transparency through special or emergency sessions in our courts. The current situation is unhealthy and does not reflect good governance practices.

Post-Hurricane Melissa Clean-up