Boards balk at disclosure

Klao Bell, Staff Reporter

MEMBERS of some school boards are concerned that they will be required to reveal their assets under the Corruption Prevention Act, and have asked the Ministry of Education for clarification.

This was confirmed by Edwin Thomas, public relations officer in the Ministry of Education. He said, "We've received letters from board members and we are aware that people have concerns so we have written to the Solicitor-General's Department for advice."

However, Mr. Thomas is concerned that the requirements of the Act would deter people from serving on school boards.

"Schools cannot function without boards," he said. "It is an untenable situation, we wouldn't want to have board members backing away. But if people are asked to disclose their assets this may be a turn off," Mr. Thomas said last week.

The Corruption Prevention Act, which came into effect on May 1 of this year, requires that all public servants make annual declarations of their assets. But the regulations of the Act have not yet been worked out, causing a quandary among persons to whom it may apply.

However, board members may well have to declare their assets. According to an official from the Solicitor-General's office, "They (persons to whom it applies) have an obligation to file returns as provided for in schedule one in the Corruption Prevention Act."

The Act states that, "every person who...is a public servant shall...furnish to the Commission a statutory declaration of his assets and liabilities and his income..." The Act further describes a public servant as, "any person employed in the public, municipal or parochial service of Jamaica (or) in the service of a statutory body or authority or a Government company."

Unlike companies, members of school boards are not employed but serve voluntarily having been appointed by the members of the Parents Teachers' Association.

The official in the office of the Solicitor-General, however, pointed out that, "The Act is not effective without the regulations which set out basic guidelines that identify the level of persons whose connection with Government boards and agencies makes it necessary for them to make annual declarations."

These regulations are being worked out by the Corruption Prevention Commission.

Meanwhile, the Jamaica Teachers' Association said it has not had any complaints from schools but will be looking into the matter.

"A board member is not a public employee, I'm not clear if they are considered public officers since they supervise a public entity. We will be looking at all of these matters to understand the implications of the Act," said Dr. Adolph Cameron, general secretary of the JTA.

Delroy Chuck, Jamaica Labour Party spokesman on justice, suggested that board members wait until the regulations are made clear.

"It is preposterous that members of school boards should be asked to reveal their assets, but the regulations will outline which public bodies should be included," Mr. Chuck said.

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