Corruption Prevention Commission to Provide Oversight under Protected Disclosures Act

Cabinet has approved the appointment of the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption as the designated authority under the Protected Disclosures Act 2011.

This was disclosed by Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer, during Jamaica House press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister on July 18, 2012.

“You may recall that the Protected Disclosures Act received the Governor-General’s assent in March of last year, however, the Act has not been brought into operation because one of the mechanisms regulating the Act had not been put in place,” Ms. Falconer said nothing that the Act requires that the Minister names an individual or entity as the designated authority.

She said that “it was felt that although an oversight body to oversee the administration of the Act was necessary, no new body should be established but rather, the Minister would designate an existing entity to carry out that function. The Commission for the Prevention of Corruption was approached and agreed to being named the designated authority”.

The purpose of the Act is to establish procedures to facilitate the disclosure by an employee, to the relevant authorities, any information regarding any conduct of an employer or fellow employee, which is believed to constitute improper conduct. It will also provide for the protection of any person making these disclosers.

By Chris Patterson, JIS Reporter