In confidence

By HELEN TARAWA
A BILL has been drafted to protect the identity of people who report corruption to authorities, it has been revealed.
Minister for Justice and Attorney-General Davis Steven had directed the Constitutional Law and Reform Commission to draft the Whistleblower Bill to be submitted to the National Executive Council before it is tabled in Parliament.
Commission Secretary Dr Eric Kwa told The National that the draft had been completed.
“It is to protect people who report corruption,” he said.
They began collating material for the bill some time ago through consultation with the people and government authorities. Steven last month directed the commission to have it prepared for submission to Cabinet.
Kwa said discussions on such legislation had been on-going.
“The call for a whistleblower law has been in discussion for a while.”
Kwa said they looked at models from other countries to help them draft the bill. They also consulted agencies which had been reporting on corruption in the country.
He said the law, when enacted, would support the work of organisations such as the Human Rights Commission and the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
“The law is designed in a way that it does not impinge on other laws,” he said.
“It is a standalone law but it provides the process.
“It covers private citizens and public officers – and even journalists who in the course of their work report on corruption.
“They will be protected.”
Meanwhile, work has started on the review of the Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Government elections which was recently launched by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.
The commission is currently reviewing laws for about 20 government departments and state agencies, including the Ombudsman Commission and Auditor-General.