Senator Presses Government Over Stalled Whistleblower Legislation

Senator Glenfield Dennison also turned his attention to the Protected Disclosures Bill, commonly referred to as the whistleblower legislation, which has remained stalled since it was introduced in the House of Representatives in May 2021. The Union Senator says the continued delay leaves people who expose corruption, financial wrongdoing and other forms of misconduct vulnerable to dismissal, intimidation and victimization. He says recent cases involving leaked information have again demonstrated why those protections are urgently needed.

Glenfield Dennison, Unions Senator: “There’s a piece of legislation that is meant to protect people who are doing exactly what we need more of in Belize, blowing the whistle on corruption. Whistleblowers legislation is languishing in the House of Representatives my brother. Not the OSH. That is what we need to spot a light on. Why is that piece of legislation languishing, that is dead you know ? So we’re here to resurrect it. Resurrect the Protected Disclosure Bill because you see who they’re victimizing or wanting to victimize the people who are leaking the screen shots on the Mira Millions that is what that is there to protect. So let us get that out in the next 90 days. I am ready to debate that at the Senate. Senator Chanona are you ready to debate that in the senate ? I’m ready. Let’s get the Whistleblowers bill.”

The Protected Disclosures Bill was introduced to encourage people to report wrongdoing in both the public and private sectors. It covers reports involving criminal offences, breaches of legal duties, misuse of public funds, gross mismanagement, threats to public safety, environmental damage and attempts to conceal wrongdoing. Under the proposed law, employers would be required to appoint whistleblowing officers and establish internal systems through which employees could report suspected misconduct. Reports could also be made to specialized units within designated authorities when there is no internal reporting system, when no action is taken or when the whistleblower believes evidence could be destroyed or retaliation could follow. Those authorities would include the Auditor General’s Office, the Financial Intelligence Unit, the Integrity Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Police Department, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General’s Ministry. A person making a protected disclosure in good faith would be shielded from dismissal, suspension, demotion, harassment, forced transfer and other forms of retaliation. The person’s identity would also have to remain confidential, unless written consent is given for its disclosure. Whistleblowers would generally be protected from civil, criminal and disciplinary action arising from the disclosure. Anyone who is victimized could apply to the court for an injunction, compensation or another form of relief. The bill would also make it an offence to intimidate someone, prevent a disclosure, punish a whistleblower or knowingly submit false information. Depending on how the matter is prosecuted, a conviction could carry a fine of up to fifty thousand dollars and as many as ten years in prison. Despite those proposed protections, the bill did not advance through all its parliamentary stages in 2021 and remains listed as draft legislation. Dennison is calling on the Government to revive it and move it through the National Assembly.