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