The Commission for Standards in Public Life was formed in January 2010 but its latest report (see attached in full) says that in its three previous reports “the Commission highlighted the need for the enactment of the necessary enabling legislation to ensure the Commission  can fully perform  its  functions  in a proper, timely and effective manner.”

They said “the lack of supporting and enforceable legislation renders its mandate to maintain a Register of Interests as well as the additional responsibilities of the Commission meaningless in so far as it relates to the Commission’s ability to validate powers of compliance monitoring for standards in public life and investigations of potential breaches.”

The Commission has completed its role in the drafting of the SPL Bill that is with the Attorney General for final consideration before being forwarded to the Deputy Governor for submission to Cabinet and finally the Legislative Assembly.

They also said, ““The Commission is also of the firm belief that steps must be taken to ensure that individuals who are appointed to public boards do not place themselves in positions where conflicts of interest arise.”

Although the necessary legislation for the Commission to get some teeth is featured in the government’s legislative agenda published in the budget documents last month it sits near the bottom of a very long list.

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