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(E-074/01)
March 30, 2001 

JAMAICA RATIFIES HEMISPHERIC ANTI-CORRUPTION TREATY

The Jamaican government deposited with the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington today the official instruments whereby it ratified the Inter-American Convention against Corruption, which the hemispheric Organization adopted in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1996.

Dr. Richard L. Bernal, the Jamaican Ambassador to the OAS, presented the ratification documents to Secretary General César Gaviria, during a brief ceremony at OAS headquarters.

In a statement afterwards, Ambassador Bernal stressed that when Jamaica signed the OAS Convention in March 1996, it demonstrated the government's "unwavering commitment to the fight against corruption at the national as well as international levels."

He recalled that the Caribbean country has had legislation in place governing public service officials since 1931, "but saw it fit in 1973 to enact legislation to cover the conduct of officials elected to Parliament.

"Jamaica participated actively in the drafting of the Convention, and has continued to play a pivotal role in the deliberations on all aspects. The government of Jamaica’s participation emanated from an appreciation of and recognition that the scourge of corruption threatens political institutions, the social fabric and the national development process," declared Ambassador Bernal.

The Jamaican Ambassador explained as well that in the period since signing the treaty, the government had sought to ensure the widest possible participation and consultation on the draft legislation. "The private sector, the opposition, civil society, including the Bar Association, and the media were engaged," he stated.

Jamaica's ratification brings to 22 the number of OAS member states to ratify the Convention against Corruption. The others are: Argentina, Bahamas, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.

 

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