Head of Integrity Commission Calls for Harmonised Anti-corruption Legislation Across Region

Executive Director of the Integrity Commission, Craig Beresford, is calling for harmonised anti-corruption legislation and greater collaboration across the Caribbean, arguing that corruption should be treated as a regional crisis, requiring a unified response.

Mr.  Beresford made the call while addressing a press conference during the opening of the 12th Annual Commonwealth Caribbean Association of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies (CCAICAB) Conference on June 1, at the ROK Hotel in Kingston.

He said differing legislative frameworks across Caribbean countries can hinder the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts and stressed the need for jurisdictions to employ similar tools and strategies.

“The time has come to treat anti-corruption as a regional public good,” he said, noting that a cohesive approach would strengthen the fight against corruption throughout the region.

Outlining the Integrity Commission’s work, Mr. Beresford said the agency combats corruption on four fronts – prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution.

He highlighted ongoing efforts to advance Jamaica’s National Anti-Corruption Strategy, explaining that the Commission intends to accelerate implementation and bring national stakeholders together in a coordinated effort. He emphasised the importance of engaging communities and increasing public awareness of the impact corruption has on citizens’ daily lives.

On the issue of detection, Mr. Beresford said the Commission continues to strengthen its statutory declaration regime and expand its use of technology. He noted that investments are being made in big-data analytics, forensic tools and case-management systems to improve the agency’s ability to identify and examine suspicious activities. He added that these technological improvements also support the Commission’s investigative functions.

Mr. Beresford further underscored the importance of collaboration with partner agencies, including the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), describing the relationship as excellent. He said joint interviews and coordinated investigations are helping to strengthen anti-corruption efforts, while support from international and local partners is assisting with capacity-building and the development of highly skilled investigators capable of delivering quality results.

Meanwhile, Director-General of MOCA, Colonel Desmond Edwards, said corruption has evolved significantly with advances in technology, particularly in the cyber domain. He noted that fraud, money laundering and other illicit activities have increasingly migrated online, a trend that became especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, as businesses and individuals relied more heavily on digital platforms.

Mr. Edwards said MOCA has responded by significantly expanding its cyber-forensics capabilities, establishing specialised cyber-investigation and data-analysis teams, and recruiting financial forensic analysts to handle increasingly complex cases.

He revealed that one investigation required analysts to process as many as 17 terabytes of data, underscoring the scale of modern corruption investigations.

Welcoming the conference, Mr. Edwards said the forum provides an important opportunity for regional agencies to exchange ideas, share best practices and strengthen collective efforts to combat what he described as a national, regional and global problem.