Prime Minister Philip Davis and his cabinet during the traditional pre-budget walk through Rawson Square to the House of Assembly in May 2024. Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

By LÉANDRA ROLLE

Chief journalist of the Tribune

[email protected]

The Davis administration’s plan to create an independent commission to investigate allegations of misconduct against law enforcement officers comes after it was slow to promote broad measures that increase transparency, accountability and public trust in public officials and critical institutions.

Administration officials suggested that passage of the Independent Commission of Inquiry bill was key to helping restore public trust in law enforcement after a U.S. federal indictment explosive painted a picture of significant corruption within the Royal Bahamas Police Force, with some officers helping to smuggle cocaine into the United States.

The commission would have broad powers to inspect relevant records, documents and buildings, interview witnesses, review procedures within security forces and public agencies and ensure that complaints are properly submitted and investigated. .

“No rank, no title, no position will protect anyone from the reach of this commission,” National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said last week.

However, the government’s record in supporting systems that strengthen the accountability of public officials is weak.

In its 2024 Bahamas Investment Climate Report, the US Department of State accused the government of “blocking” the full implementation of anti-corruption laws aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in Bahamian governance .

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis says the full implementation of the Freedom of Information Act and the introduction of campaign finance reform, promises set out in the PLP’s pre-election manifesto, are not not priorities for his administration at present, citing greater concern over the cost of living. issues affecting Bahamians.

Lawmakers passed an Ombudsman Bill to empower the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate the administrative operations of public authorities and identify cases of maladministration, but the status of this body is unclear.

Proponents of good governance have called for an overhaul of the public disclosure regime to ensure compliance, transparency and verification of statements. Successive administrations have failed to change the law.

Matt Aubry, executive president of the Organization for Accountable Governance, said yesterday that the country’s governance record raises doubts about whether the commission charged with investigating allegations of misconduct against officials charged with law enforcement will meet public expectations for effectiveness and robustness.

“Historically,” he said, “the government hasn’t necessarily done more than just put something on the books, not how to activate it or implement it in a way that it fully meets his intentions. This is a fact you need to take into account when looking to build people’s comfort and trust in a system.

“The current situation does not belong to any particular administration because obviously the lack of movement on legislative frameworks has been widespread because we have had a Freedom of Information Act in one form or another since 2012 and no movement on this. No administration seems specifically motivated to do so.”

“It took a long time to get the Procurement Act passed, and even though the last administration passed it and this administration revised it, we’re still not completely there. This administration passed an Ombudsman bill, which was talked about by the previous administration, which didn’t, but there are no resources and no enforcement.

“The key is to ensure that there are meaningful and tangible mechanisms that ensure transparency. So if we are going to bring this Bill forward for consultation, that is essential, but we also need to understand that freedom of information, fully funded and enacted, has a role to play; ensuring that public procurement laws are respected at all levels has a role to play; ensuring that we have more transparent and functional public disclosure laws has a very important role, and election financing has a key role; It is important to ensure that there is a comprehensive system that encourages whistleblowers to come forward.

“All of these things must be addressed together as a comprehensive solution to change a culture that either recognizes that there are challenges in our governance and attempts to work around them, or does not do enough to mitigate potential bad actors who will hopefully THE. a smaller part of our public sector.