(Jamaica Gleaner) Jamaica’s chief anti-corruption agency, the Integrity Commission, is to receive a massive cash injection from the United Kingdom as it moves to further strengthen its operations.
The British Government is to provide the commission with approximately $108 million (£550,000) over the next two years to enable significant capacity-building at the anti-corruption agency.
Details of the agreement were finalised on Monday with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the UK Government and the commission.
Under the MOU, seven major development activities will be undertaken at the commission, which started operations in February 2018.
These include support to develop the capability for electronic filing of statutory declarations with the commission; procurement of a case management system; procurement of interview equipment; and the preparation of a draft national anti-corruption strategy.
The UK Government will also provide funding for the commission’s strategic communication programme; the preparation of drafting instructions for the agency’s regulations and proposed changes to the Integrity Commission Act; and training for financial analysts, investigators, and prosecutors.
Funding for this latest agreement with the commission was secured through the £17.25-million Serious and Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Programme (SOCAP) 2020-25, designed to build the capability of public agencies in Jamaica to combat corruption and major organised crime.
