HOA gets closer to having a register of interests

Lawmakers got one step closer on Monday night to creating a private database of information about House of Assembly members’ financial interests.

In May 2006, legislators passed the Register of Interests Act, which requires the creation of a book where all HOA members would have to disclose their financial interests, such as directorships, employment, clients, sponsorships, gifts received, overseas visits, land and shareholdings.

The act officially took effect in February 2008, but a functional register has not been established because the law requires a standing select committee of HOA members to approve its format. That committee was appointed Monday.

Premier Dr. Orlando Smith moved a motion appointing six lawmakers to the committee: Communications and Works Minister Mark Vanterpool; Junior Ministers Archibald Christian and Marlon Penn; backbencher Alvera Maduro-Caines; and the two opposition members, Julian Fraser and Andrew Fahie. Mr. Vanterpool will chair the committee.

Though transparency advocates and some politicians have argued that the register should be public, under the law it will only be searchable by HOA members and criminal investigators or upon a court order.

Victoreen Romney-Varlack was appointed registrar of interests in 2008, and since then she has requested annually that the committee be formed.

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