The first Commonwealth Regional Conference for Heads of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies in the Caribbean was held between 22 and 26 June 2015 in Grenada.

Organised and sponsored by the Commonwealth Secretariat, and hosted by the Integrity Commission of Grenada in St. George’s, the conference provided an opportunity “for commissions to collaborate, exchange experiences and improve understanding about advanced techniques and procedures in forensics, financial accounting and asset tracking, as well as prosecutions, public education and prevention, among other areas”.

“The conference was an excellent opportunity to learn from those who have already carved out a path along the way to integrity in public life through legislation and education” said Mrs. Whittaker-Myles.

Commission for Standards in Public Life Chairman, Mrs. Rosie Whittaker-Myles, along with the Senior Investigator of the Anti-Corruption Unit, Detective Inspector Richard Oliver, joined representatives from Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commissions across the region. In attendance were representatives from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Turks and Caicos Islands, as well as representatives of Caribbean institutions such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organization of American States and Tanzania.

Each Integrity Commission and Anti-Corruption Body was required to submit a conference paper and make a presentation on its work in the fight against corruption. Mrs. Whittaker-Myles said “the delegates shared with us what worked and what did not work in their respective jurisdictions and for that, we are better placed when our legislation (Standards in Public Life Law) comes into effect.”

As a result of the Conference the Association of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies in the Commonwealth Caribbean was formed. The Association’s goal is to “help Caribbean countries to cooperate across borders, exchange best practices and develop regional anti-corruption initiatives.”

“The Cayman Islands’ participation in the Association is vital in ensuring the future collaboration of experiences and resources as they relate to integrity and anti-corruption efforts across the region” added D/I Oliver.