The newly appointed Director of the Anti Corruption Agency, former Commissioner of Police Darwin Dottin, has detailed his vision for the agency’s operations, emphasising collaboration among key institutions to tackle the pervasive issue of corruption in Barbados.
Dottin said addressing corruption required a unified effort, underscoring the agency’s crucial role in this fight.
Following a strategic meeting with various government partners, Dottin explained, “Investigating corruption involves a cooperative approach. This is not the work of one agency. It has to be a collaborative effort. The Director of Public Prosecutions, the Defence Force, police, customs, immigration, the Director of Financial Investigations and the Financial Registrar are all involved because these agencies touch on the issue of corruption.”
The meeting, Dottin shared, was just the first step in preparing for the agency’s strategies for the financial year.
“This was a preparatory meeting. There will be follow-up meetings where we will outline the strategies and plans to deal with corruption. But before I formalise these plans, I need to engage with these key players.”
Dottin also recognised the global dimension of corruption, linking it to other significant international challenges.
“Corruption is really an international problem. Experts have identified three pressing global issues at this time – climate change, terrorism and corruption. You can easily see the effects of climate change and terrorism, but the issue of corruption is more hidden. It is just as dangerous and corrosive,” Dottin explained.
The formation of Barbados’ Anti-Corruption Agency stems from its commitment to international conventions.
“The international community has taken action,” he said, referring to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, which Barbados signed in 2003 and ratified in 2022. “The convention sets up guidelines for legislation and processes and it recommends that states establish units to enforce these provisions. Our agency is a direct result of this,” Dottin added.
Two-pronged approach The agency, as outlined by Dottin, has a two-pronged approach: “We are mandated to investigate and prosecute acts of corruption, but also to prevent corruption through public outreach, education and awareness. The preventive arm of the agency is just as important as the investigative one.”
Legislation is a crucial part of this fight , he said, highlighting the introduction of a new Bribery Act.
“The new legislation replaces a very outdated act. It’s more relevant to contemporary times, covering a wide range of issues related to corruption. The penalties are stiffer now, which I believe will act as a deterrent for those tempted by corruption,” he explained.
Whistleblower legislation
He also noted that the law did not just focus on the public sector: “People often think corruption only happens in the public sector but this act addresses bribery and corruption in the private sector as well.”
The former Commissioner of Police praised the recent passing of whistleblower legislation, calling it a promising tool in the agency’s arsenal.
“We’re putting in place the technology to allow people to report acts of corruption confidentially. Whether they want to remain anonymous or not, we’re creating systems that will protect their identities. The technology we’re using is based in Europe and ensures confidentiality for whistleblowers.”
In addition to legislative changes, Dottin pointed out that Barbados was undergoing an implementation review as part of its obligations under the UN we’re ensures implementation Convention. “Once a country signs the convention, they are required to report to the Secretary General on how they are implementing its provisions. We are currently in that process. It’s not just internal; there’s an element for wider Barbadian society to give their views on corruption as well.”
As the Anti-Corruption Agency continues to develop its strategies, Dottin remains optimistic about the path ahead. “This is a crucial fight for the integrity of our public and private sectors. Through collaboration, education, and strong legislative support, I believe we can make significant strides in addressing the issue of corruption in Barbados,” he concluded.