However earlier in the week, on Tuesday 21st August, 2012, when the country’s Prime Minister, Dr. Denzil Douglas was pressed on the matter, during his radio program, he essentially revealed that the Office of the Attorney General is working on Integrity in Public Life Legislation that will be soon brought to parliament.
Douglas indicated that Integrity in Public Life was brought to the parliament before and that his government supports any legislation of this kind and thinks it should be brought back to the parliament and become law.
“I believe the Attorney General’s office is working steadfastly on this piece of legislation that was brought to parliament, I think it needs to be revisited because of the way it was brought and as soon as it is ready, it shall come back to the parliament for debate, becoming part of the body of laws for St. Christopher and Nevis,” he said.
The Prime Minister added that to some extent, certain requirements already enshrined in some pieces of legislation, even though it may not be embodied in one act of parliament.
He also stated that he does not believe there is any difficulty in having such an Act passed.
Douglas went on to say that the government has nothing to hide from the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.
The Integrity in Public Life legislation has caused some controversy on the national scene and at one point the members of the opposition tried to have a draft Bill introduced but they were blocked by the Speaker from having it formally introduced for debate, claiming that the correct procedures were not followed.
This led to a walk out from parliament by the opposition members in protest of the Speaker’s actions.