Bipartisan Support for Keeping ‘Gag Clause’ in IC Act

The retention of the so-called ‘gag clause’ as part of the Integrity Commission Act, continues to enjoy bipartisan support among lawmakers.

The clause prevents the commission from commenting on ongoing investigations until a final report has been tabled.

Chevon Campbell tells us more.

Section 53 of the Integrity Commission Act deals with the restriction on the disclosure of certain matters.

The so-called ‘gag clause’ has been the subject of tremendous debate since the inception of the Integrity Commission.

Several anti-corruption and civil society groups have called for its removal. This includes the commission itself.

However, justice minister, Delroy Chuck, remained unmoved by those arguments, which again came up at Tuesday’s meeting of the joint select committee of Parliament reviewing the Integrity Commission Act.

Member of Parliament for South East St. Andrew, Julian Robinson, also remained unconvinced by calls to remove the clause.

But opposition senator, Donna Scott-Motley, called for her fellow legislators to set their personal opinions aside.

Government senator, Sherene Golding-Campbell, says while the arguments put forward so far have yet to persuade her to remove the clause, she’s open to further discussions on the topic.