Minister of Justic Senator Mark Golding says an advisory committee has been set up to see to the early implementation of legislation for the establishment of the proposed single anti-corruption body.

Minister Golding, who made the announcement on Thursday at the official opening of Transparency International's 2012 Regional Meeting of the Americas, held at SuperClubs Breezes Hotel in Runaway Bay, St Ann, said the committee "is constituted of men and women of integrity and expertise throughout their careers".

He said the committee would "examine the matter, consult with the relevant stakeholders, including the various institutions with an anti-corruption mandate, in formulating new proposals, and report to me with an optional design for Jamaica's institutional and legislative anti-corruption arrangement".

Policy arrangements

Golding revealed that the body had already had its first meeting and is to report to him by the end of June.

"Following this, a submission will be made to Cabinet outlining the specific policy arrangements and seeking approval for instructions to be issued to commence implementation of the legislative framework," he said.

Governor General His Excellency the Most Hon Sir Patrick Allen, in his Throne Speech earlier this month, said the Government would be establishing a single anti-corruption agency, which will have appropriate powers to effectively tackle the pervasiveness of corruption in Jamaica.

Legislative framework

The justice minister said recently that Jamaica is committed to tackling the scourge of corruption through a robust and effective anti-corruption institutional and legislative framework.

He said the Global Corruption Perception Index ranked Jamaica 86 of 182 countries with a score of 3.3, proving that corruption was highly pervasive in Jamaica.

Leader of the Opposition Andrew Holness, in his message which was read by Member of Parliament for South Trelawny Marisa Dalrymple-Phillibert, said that corruption in Jamaica is high on the list of national concerns.

The regional meeting, which is being held over three days, has attracted representatives from Transparency International's 20 national chapters located in Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.