THE GLEANER, MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2024 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | IC FEATURE C7 The Integrity Commission: Fortifying Against Corruption on International Anti-Corruption Day As the world unites to observe International Anti-Corruption Day, Jamaica stands at the forefront of the battle against corruption with its robust Integrity Commission. This supplement sheds light on the inner workings of the Commission, exploring its organizational structure and current initiatives. Overview: Our Mission in the Fight against Corruption The Integrity Commission (the “Commission”) was established in 2018 by an Act of Parliament and is mandated under Section 6 of the Integrity Commission Act (the “Act”) to carry out the following functions, among others; • Investigate alleged or suspected acts of corruption and instances of non-compliance with the provisions of the Act; • Prosecute acts of corruption and offences committed under the Act; • Receive complaints in relation to alleged or suspected acts of corruption and instances of non-compliance with the provisions of the Act; • Monitor and where necessary, investigate the award, implementation and termination of government contracts, including any prescribed licence issued by a public body; and • Combat corruption through the development, implementation and enforcement of anti-corruption legislation, policy and initiatives, through our highly competent staff and efficient systems, processes and procedures. The Commission is committed to the fight against corruption on all levels, promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity across all sectors. This International AntiCorruption Day, we embrace the theme, “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity.” We believe that it is critical to engage youths in the process of change as they are not just the leaders of tomorrow but are powerful allies in today’s fight against corruption. By educating the youth at all stages about the true meaning of Integrity, we are empowering them to stand up and join the fight to shape a future built on trust, accountability and ethical leadership. This year’s Anti-Corruption Day theme is a reminder that fighting corruption is not just about tackling corruption at the executive level but it is also about educating future leaders in order to form a culture of integrity. Each person, whether young or old, plays a crucial role in shaping the future. Anti-corruption is everyone’s responsibility. Executive Office The Roles of the Executive Office in Achieving Our Mandate The Executive Director (ED) is responsible for the day-to-day management of the affairs of the Commission other than those functions that are specifically assigned under the Integrity Commission Act to a Statutory Director. In addition, the ED is responsible for providing administrative support to the Commissioners, coordinating the functions of the Commission, attending meetings of the Commission and its general Committees, ensuring the timely implementation of their decisions and directions; submitting quarterly reports to the Commission; preparing and submitting the budget to the Commission for approval; and developing and implementing the general operational policies and procedures of the Commission. Subject to the Commissioners, the Executive Director also has oversight responsibility for the following Divisions and Departments: 1. Corporate Services Division; 2. Finance and Accounts Division; 3. Information Technology and Business Processes Division; 4. Legal Department; 5. Data Protection Department; 6. Communications Department; 7. Internal Audit Department; and 8. Commission Secretary . Each Division and/or Department plays a vital role in achieving the Commission’s mission of making Jamaica a corrupt-free society. Corporate Services Division The Corporate Services Division (CSD) oversees the general administration of the Commission. This division includes four major units: Human Resource Management, Office Services, Public Procurement and Registry. The CSD provides a suite of organizational-wide support and critical services that enables other Divisions and, ultimately the Commission, to achieve its goals and objectives. Finance and Accounts Division The Finance and Accounts Division effectively manages the financial operations of the Commission. This Division ensures that all financial operations are transparent, accountable, and in line with the Government of Jamaica’s legislations, regulations and policies. This Division also handles budgeting, financial reporting, and payroll. In addition, it takes care of accounts receivable and payables, legal compliance, fraud protection and financial control, to ensure that public funds are used efficiently and with propriety in the fight against corruption. The Information Technology and Business Processes Division This Division is responsible for developing and maintaining the electronic and technological infrastructure that supports the Commission’s daily operations and activities. By integrating and updating modern technology, this Division enhances our capacity to secure our electronic and technological systems, as well as, monitoring, investigating, and acting on corruptionrelated issues efficiently. The key responsibilities of this Division are to: • adequately maintain the Information and Communication Technologies (“ICT”) infrastructure, which includes, license renewals, hardware and software upgrades; • optimize performance, reduce downtime and proactively monitor the ICT environment; • automate the monitoring of critical infrastructure to include uptime, downtime and capacity projection; • Proactive monitoring of hardware and software for expiration dates or compliance issues. Legal Department The Legal Department is tasked with providing effective and efficient legal services to the Commission, to assist it in the execution of its mandates as well as its compliance with all relevant laws, policies and Government procedures. Data Protection Department With the recent enactment of the Data Protection Act (the “DP Act”) in 2020, the Commission created the Data Protection Department to implement and/or improve internal organizational and technical measures at the Commission to ensure the safety, security, and confidentiality of all the personal data and sensitive data that the Commission manages. This Department also ensures that the Commission is fully compliant with the DP Act and the requirements of the regulator for data protection and privacy in Jamaica, which is the Office of the Information Commissioner. Communications Department The Communications Department plays a pivotal role in ensuring transparent and effective communication, both internally and externally to the general public. This Department also creates and/or manages public education campaigns, public statements, press releases, and social media engagement to increase public awareness about corruption and its negative effects while promoting the Commission’s current work and successes. Internal Audit Department In the fight against corruption, the Internal Audit Department serves as a crucial mechanism for ensuring transparency, accountability, and integrity within the Integrity Commission. This Department helps the Commission to achieve its objectives by independently evaluating governance, risk and controls. Very importantly, the Unit also conducts performance management audits of the Commissions’ functions and proposes recommendations in instances where there are gaps and weaknesses. Commission Secretary The Commission Secretary has the primary responsibility to provide administrative support to the Commissioners and the committees within the Commission. This includes planning meetings, taking meeting minutes, preparing and distributing meeting documents, assisting the Chairman of the Commission in developing the Annual Commission Meeting Plan and any other administrative functions as the Commission may assign.
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