Government is hoping to have new whistle-blower legislation become law in the New Year.
This is according to Attorney General and chairman of the Joint Select Committee (JSC) on whistle-blower legislation, Faris Al-Rawi.
The committee, which includes the leader of opposition business in the Senate, Wade Mark; Independent Senator Sophia Chote; and National Security Minister Edmund Dillon, held a news conference at the Parliament, yesterday, to update the nation on plans to have the proposed matter addressed.
The Whistle-blower Protection Bill, 2015, was laid in the House of Representatives on November 13 by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. Al-Rawi said yesterday it was intended to combat corruption and other wrongdoings by encouraging and disseminating disclosures of improper conduct in the public and private sectors.
Al-Rawi said he hoped the matter would be dealt with and approved before the Parliament completed its first year’s work during this session by July.
He said the legislation would address the issue of witnesses and witness protection in relation to crime in the broadest sense, adding that those crimes could include any breaches in the public or private sector.
He said crimes could not be solved without witnesses, adding that the proposed law would make people comfortable in reporting the alleged breaches to different agencies, including the Integrity Commission. He said consultations with all stakeholders were expected to commence shortly. Among those being invited were the Law Association, the T&T Chamber of Commerce, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the media.
Al-Rawi said the committee was expected to submit its first report to the Parliament by January 22.
The proposed legislation alters the Constitution and requires a special three-fifths majority support to become law.
Mark said, yesterday, he was “not a crystal ball bearer. I can’t say what will happen in the future.”
He said the JSC was “working as a team with a view to bringing forward the best possible legislation that will incorporate and encompass all those measures that will ensure a balance in this whole process, so that you wouldn’t have malicious gossip being translated into disclosures.”
Mark said, “Whatever we do, we don’t want the legislation to be interpreted as if it is all part of a witch hunt.”
He said the legislation was “not about witch hunting anyone.”
Mark said T&T was “riddled with rumours, malicious gossip and you would not want persons purporting to be whistle blowers advancing frivolous, vexatious information and disclosures that can be detrimental to the reputation and good name of citizens in this republic."
Mark said there were provisions in the proposed legislation to deal with that matter. He said he maintained that whoever did the crime must do the time. Mark said the UNC was “not afraid of anything. We are committed to the development of a just, fair and equal society for all citizens.”