BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, CMC – The St. Kitts-Nevis government says as of Monday, July 31, specific public officials, including the prime minister as well as government and opposition legislators, will have to file declarations of their assets, liabilities, and income to the Integrity Commission.
“This is History in the Making. Our Office has prepared summarized guidelines for this important democratic process,” Attorney General Garth Wilkin wrote on the Facebook page of the Attorney General, adding that the government, after extensive consultations, has introduced Good Governance Transformative Laws.
“The new paradigm in Good Governance for our Federation begins with activating the Integrity In Public Life Act (amended in 2023),” he added.
As a result, any person appointed as a public official before April 22, 2023, must file an initial declaration with the Integrity Commission on or before July 31 of this year.
However, if appointed on or after April 22, 2023, that public official is expected to file an initial declaration within 100 days of their appointment.
Except for death, the declaration continues for two succeeding calendar years after a person ceases their appointment as a public official.
The Integrity in Public Life Declaration requires not only information from the public official but also the spouse and other members of the family of the official,
The public official’s spouse means that the two have been married or have been living within a typical law relationship for five years before the filing of the declaration and that children include stepchild, adopted child, or the child born out of wedlock under the age of 18.
A child is also identified as 18- 25, unmarried, attending a recognized learning institution, and fully supported by a public official.
The legislation makes it mandatory for the public official to declare land title documents, vehicle ownership documents, copies of insurance policies or certificates, bank statements containing the account holder’s name, and at least two government-issued identification documents.
A public official’s banking information should include local and foreign-based accounts. Cash or any other property over EC$25,000 (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) must be declared.
Among the public officials identified in the legislation are members of parliament, including the Clerk of the National Assembly, cabinet ministers, Public Service Commissioners, Police Service Commissioners, magistrates, Registrars and Deputy Registrars of the High Court, the
Ombudsman, the Comptroller of Inland Revenue, Ambassadors as well as High Commissioners
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