UN Convention Against Corruption Already Signed, Legislation Still to Come

Magali Marin-Young

The joint unions have been calling for the implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, UNCAC.  As Attorney General Magali Marin Young explained today, UNCAC is not a piece of legislation to be imported into this jurisdiction.  Belize has already signed on to the convention, but those good governance measures are slow in coming.  According to the Attorney General, the unions are being unreasonable if they expect the Briceño administration to enact all the legislation overnight.

Magali Marin-Young, Attorney General

“The UNCAC is a convention. It is not a piece of legislation that we simply import into Belize. It is a convention just like the convention for the elimination of discrimination against women. A country then has a duty to take legislative measures to implement the legislative measures under the convention. And that is what we are doing. That is what good governance, we are looking at the whistle blower’s legislation and all of that. So PM Briceño is committed to enacting home-grown legislation, in its commitment to UNCAC.”

Reporter

“So, the Unions are essentially incorrect in saying, will the government sign on to UNCAC?”

Magali Marin-Young

“I think that the Unions are well meaning clearly. All of us want good governance and they are a key stakeholder. So, they are well meaning, but I think in this sense they are being a little unreasonable in expecting us to enact all these legislative measures overnight.”