FEDERAL PARLIAMENT PASSES INTEGRITY IN PUBLIC LIFE (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2025, TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN GOOD GOVERNANCE IN SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

Basseterre, Saint Kitts, March 21, 2025 (SKNIS): The Integrity in Public Life (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was successfully passed in the National Assembly on Friday, March 21, 2025, marking another significant step in the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis’ ongoing commitment to good governance, transparency, and accountability.

The amendments aim to improve clarity, consistency, and functionality of the Integrity in Public Life Act. Changes include the alignment of declaration filing dates for both the Saint Kitts and the Nevis Integrity Commissions, ensuring that individuals such as the Premier and Leader of the Opposition are no longer required to file separate declarations with two different commissions. The revised law also refines key definitions, strengthens financial disclosure requirements, and extends the Integrity Commission’s discretion to grant deadline extensions under justified circumstances.

The Honourable Attorney General (AG) and Minister for Justice and Legal Affairs, Garth Wilkin, led the debate on the Bill, which had its first reading on February 27, 2025. In his presentation, Attorney General Wilkin emphasised the importance of the amendments in refining the legislative framework that governs the conduct of public officials.

“I am pleased to report to this Honourable House, Madam Speaker, and to the general public that integrity in public life is now part of the DNA of our society. Good governance is here to stay,” said AG Wilkin. “Hundreds of senior civil servants, parliamentarians, ministers, board chairs and other persons in public life have already filed two sets of declarations with the Integrity Commission. Our third declarations are due to be filed by April 30 this year. Filing annual declarations of our income, assets and liabilities is now a part of the lives of all persons in public life at a senior level in our Federation, and it’s an assurance to the general public that corruption is no longer the order of the day,” he added.

Additional amendments call for the list of public officials obligated to file declarations expanded to include directors at the K40 level and above, as well as other senior public positions such as the Cabinet Secretary. Oversight responsibilities have also been streamlined, with certain Nevis-based entities now falling solely under the jurisdiction of the Nevis Integrity Commission.

“So there have been several textural modifications that have been made to improve the readability and ensure the consistency in the terminology within the act. Very simple amendment, but very important. You don’t get everything right the first time, and it’s important to always keep up-to-date and always advance and make sure that the law is as strong as it can be,” AG Wilkin stated. “This Bill was created after open discussion with the two commissions, and we felt that these were the necessary changes and clarifications that needed to be brought to strengthen the Integrity in Public Life Act… a strategic refinement of the existing legislative framework to strengthen the accountability mechanisms for persons in public life.”

Two new Integrity Commissioners have also been appointed and will soon take their oaths of office, replacing the outgoing commissioners, Carol Boddie and Dennis Knight, who were commended for their service.

According to Attorney General Wilkin, with the successful passage of the Integrity in Public Life (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis continues to build on its vision of a transparent and accountable public service that serves the best interest of its citizens.

-30-