Basseterre, St. Kitts (SKNIS): The Member for St. Christopher Two, Honourable Marsha Henderson supported the Bill entitled Anti-Corruption Bill, 2023 during its second reading in the National Assembly on February 22, 2023.
Honourable Henderson stated that she supports the Bill in its entirety but singled out Section Five (5) in the Bill as having specific importance to her as a non-practicing attorney at law.
She said, “The Bill avoids the reality and the perception of political bias” she added, “Normally, if there is not the appointment of the Special Prosecutor, what we would have is the Attorney General as the person with the inherent jurisdiction to investigate his boss or his boss’ opponents … what this section does is to avoid the reality or any perception of political bias. Section five speaks to the persons who can be disqualified.”
“As having practiced in the criminal court, I understand how persons can separate and not necessarily be biased and as fair as persons may appear there will still be the perception of bias,” Minister Henderson said.
She stated that this Bill is a step in the right direction of rectifying the perception of bias.
“It helps because the Special Prosecutor will be independent of the DPP’s Chambers, independent of the Attorney General’s Chambers and independent of the government,” she added.
“In a highly diverse political society, for me, the saying is that justice must not only be done but also be seen to be done. To me, this piece of legislation gives true meaning to those words,” Minister Henderson said.