Agency needed to protect whistle-blower, says Mullings

GOVERNMENT BACKBENCHER Clive Mullings has argued for the establishment of a whistle-blower office to ensure the proposed law is effective.

At the same time, other members of the joint select committee of Parliament examining the bill have suggested that a special fund be set aside to assist employees who have been wrongfully dismissed because they have made certain disclosures about their bosses.

The members said Parliament should consider paying legal fees and providing other support to whistle-blowers who are kicked out of their jobs because of earth-shattering disclosures.

The Whistle-blower Act seeks to encourage and give protection to employees to speak about malpractice and acts of corruption that have been committed or are likely to be committed in the workplace.

Corruption concern

Mullings, member of parliament for West Central St James, told the committee that if the act is to be effective, it must be presided over by an office commissioned by Parliament.

"Jamaica ranks too high on the totem pole of countries deemed to be corrupt in their processes. The more I look at this legislation, the more we wrestle with the methods and procedures to be established," Mullings said.

Attorney General Dorothy Lighbourne, who chairs the committee, said the proposed office of the special prosecutor would clear up the issues raised by Mullings.

On another matter which requires employees to reporting corrupt practices to a person in their organisation, Mullings said it was most unwise.

"What you have to be concerned about is the protection of the disclosure and the person making the disclosure," Mullings said.

"Once you impose that mandatory requirement of going internally, you will be signing their death warrant," he added.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com