BELIZE: INTEGRITY COMMISSION INEFFECTIVE

UNCLAS BELMOPAN 000700 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CEN - ROIS BEAL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR BH SUBJECT: BELIZE: INTEGRITY COMMISSION INEFFECTIVE ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Belize's Integrity Commission has not prosecuted a public official for corruption since the body was formed in 1994. The current head of the commission privately told poloff that he would resign if reforms were not instituted prior to the upcoming election. The commission's inaction is unfortunately typical of watchdog bodies in Belize, offering little deterrent to official corruption. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) Belize's Integrity Commission was established in 1994 pursuant to the Prevention of Corruption in Public Life Act. The Act's main mechanism to deter or uncover corruption is to require public officials to submit annual financial statements. However, the most recent annual report shows a mere 27% filing rate. ¶3. (SBU) The Commission comprises seven members appointed by the Prime Minister in concurrence with the Opposition Leader. According to the current Chairman, Christopher Coye (the former president of the Belize Bar Association),the Commission is completely ineffective. ¶4. (U) Over the past 13 years only one complaint has been brought to the Commission. The complaint was lodged by the Association of Concerned Belizeans in 2005. The case concerned three officials: the then Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Solicitor General. The complaint alleged numerous breaches of the Code of Conduct established by the Act. ¶5. (U) The Commission dismissed the complaint against two of the Ministers due to lack of evidence but determined that further investigation was warranted surrounding the third official. However, the official subsequently left the Government and the investigation was dropped. ¶6. (SBU) The current commission has drafted proposed changes to the Prevention of Corruption Act in a bill recently submitted to the House. The bill provides for criminal penalties and increased fines for acts of corruption. The Chairman fears the House will not examine the bill before the upcoming general elections and that there will be no incentive for a new government to push for tighter corruption controls. He also stated that a small budget (45,000 USD) and lack of action on the bill prevent the Commission from being even remotely effective. He told us he would resign from the Commission if the bill was not passed before elections. ¶7. (SBU) COMMENT. Belize on paper has several robust anti-corruption organizations. However, in reality all groups are politically appointed lack enforcement power and have never taken decisive action. Like the ombudsman, whose job it is to investigate citizen complaints against police and government officials, the Integrity Commission is more of a symbol than a reality. END COMMENT HILL