‘We must all begin to take a stand and unite against corruption for development, peace and security’
“Corruption unabated provides the perfect gateway for financial resources needed for a country’s sustainable development to be siphoned off into private coffers at the expense of the social wellbeing of the people.”
The remark comes in a message from the chief executive of the Anti-Corruption Commission Seychelles Lucy Athanasius on the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day celebrated, today, December 9, 2016.
Ms Athanasius’ message reads:
“Corruption unabated provides the perfect gateway for financial resources needed for a country’s sustainable development to be siphoned off into private coffers at the expense of the social wellbeing of the people.
“Corruption is a scourge that weakens democracy, erodes justice and trust and hampers sustainable development. As Seychelles commemorates International Anti-Corruption Day on December 9, 2016, we must reflect on the theme of this year, which is ‘
Corruption: An impediment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’. Sustainable Development Goal 16 urges substantial reductions in corruption and bribery and the development of effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
“Fighting corruption is a global concern because corruption is found in both rich and poor countries, and evidence shows that it hurts poor people disproportionately. It contributes to instability and poverty and is a dominant factor driving already fragile countries towards state failure. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has launched a campaign inviting governments, the private sector, non-governmental organisations, the media and citizens around the world to join forces to fight this crime. The motto is ‘United against Corruption, for development, peace and security’.
“The Anti-Corruption Commission Seychelles (ACC Seychelles), calls on all members of our society including children, to reflect on the socio-economic ills that corruption breeds. These ills can affect all our lives in some way or another from the lack of employment due to nepotism as opposed to merit, the deterioration in the quality of essential services in education, health care, sanitation, housing, etc. due to funds being diverted elsewhere, the disregard for human, cultural, social and economic rights due to the degradation of the State institutions designed to uphold fair and equitable societies, and to the overall erosion of economic prosperity due to less investment in the country’s development, inequalities in the sharing of the country’s resource benefits and no rule of law.
“The ACC Seychelles has a mandate to investigate, detect and educate on the issue of corruption. It is in the process of setting up its office and recruiting staff. It is working to open its doors to the public in January 2017 once it has staff and procedures in place. It will be based on the 4th Floor of the Docklands Building, New Port Road in Victoria.
“At the end of the day, corruption, if not stopped makes each one of us members of society, its victims. No one is spared. It is imperative, therefore, that we must all begin to take a stand and ‘unite against corruption for development, peace and security’.”
As a member of the United Nations, Seychelles signed the United Nation’s Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) on February 27, 2004 and deposited its instruments of ratification for the Convention with the Secretary General of the UN on March 16, 2006.
Signing and ratifying the UNCAC, was a demonstration of the country’s commitment to combating corruption. In addition to UNCAC, Seychelles was already engaging against corruption via various other established institutions and mechanisms including through provisions of the penal code, the Offices of the Auditor General, the Ombudsman, the Attorney General as well as the police. With the establishment of the Financial Intelligence Unit in 2006 under the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2005, the establishment the Public Orders Ethics Commission in August 2008, and more recently the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Commission under the Anti-Corruption Act 2016 the country’s fight against corruption has been further strengthened.
The ACC is governed by a Board of Commissioners established under section 6 (1) of the Act, comprising five members appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Constitutional Appointments Authority. The present chairperson is the Honourable Justice Duncan Gaswaga, the vice-chairperson is Daniel Belle, and the three other commissioners are Hardy Lucas, Marie-Claire Elizabeth and Pricille Chetty.
The chief executive officer of the ACC is also appointed by the President on the recommendation of the commission who is also charged with the direction, control and supervision of the CEO under section 21 (1) of the Act.
The present CEO is Lucy Athanasius, responsible for implementing the decisions of the Commission for the effective management and carrying out of the affairs of the Commission (section 21 (1) (a) of the Act).
Among the various measures recommended for tackling corruption by the UNCAC framework, the setting up of an Anti-Corruption Commission (for investigation, prosecution, public education and awareness raising and monitoring), is one of them.
It was in 2003 that the UN General Assembly, through resolution 58/4 of 31 October 2003, approved the United Nation’s Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) which entered into force two years later (December 14, 2005), in accordance with article 68 (1) of resolution 58/4.
Source : Seychelles NATION