Senate Vice President Kenneth L. Gittens is calling for strong public and legislative support for Bill #36-0077, which seeks to formally establish the Virgin Islands Commission on Ethics and Conflicts of Interest.
The bill, heard Tuesday in the Committee on Rules and the Judiciary, proposes the creation of an independent commission tasked with addressing ethical misconduct and conflicts of interest involving public officials throughout the Virgin Islands government.
“As someone who has spent decades in law enforcement, investigating waste, fraud, abuse, and employee misconduct, I am deeply committed to transparency and accountability in government,” Senator Gittens said. “The time has come for an independent body that can act swiftly, fairly, and without political interference when ethical concerns arise.”
Senator Gittens requested that the Committee hold his bill until such time as the companion legislation, Bill #0078, is brought forward in the Committee on Appropriations, Budget & Finance. This companion measure will outline the commission’s duties and responsibilities and appropriate $1 million from the General Fund to support the staffing and operations needed to fulfill its mission.
“The public deserves to know that there is a mechanism in place to review potential conflicts of interest, questionable contracts, disproportionate raises, and other actions that undermine public confidence, even if those actions do not rise to the level of criminal misconduct,” Senator Gittens said. “We must stop waiting for outside agencies or federal authorities to intervene. We need to act now, and from within. It is my hope that the very existence of this commission will serve as a deterrent to unethical behavior.”
The Division of Personnel testified that it had recently implemented ethics training and a reporting mechanism within the agency to handle ethical lapses. Senator Gittens expressed his appreciation for the Division’s input, however he stated that the intent of his legislation was to establish an independent commission precisely to avoid internal handling of sensitive matters by existing government agencies.
“When ethics violations are handled internally, they are often not handled transparently nor thoroughly,” he said. “A fully independent commission promotes impartiality. We must restore the public’s trust and confidence in this government. The community is skeptical about the ability of the government to hold itself accountable. We must take action and enact this legislation on behalf of the people we serve.”
The proposed commission will include five members: one appointed by the Governor, one by the Senate President, one by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and two private citizens jointly nominated by the Governor and Chief Justice and confirmed by the Legislature. Members will serve staggered five-year terms, with no more than two consecutive terms permitted.
“I strongly urge my colleagues and the public to support this much-needed measure as we move forward. It’s not just about enforcement, it’s about prevention and giving our people confidence that public service is being conducted with integrity,” Senator Gittens said.
Senator Gittens noted that in the weeks ahead, he would be reintroducing the Public Corruption Act, which suspends government retirement benefits for any official convicted of a felony related to violating public trust.
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