Who We Are

National Integrity Action was registered as a not-for-profit company in March, 2011 with the objective of combatting corruption in Jamaica on a non-partisan basis and with the goal of becoming the officially recognised ‘national contact’ in Jamaica of Transparency International, the international NGO involved in combating corruption. The founding Board of Directors is:

  • Professor Anthony Harriott (Chairman)
  • Professor Trevor Munroe (Executive Director)
  • Mr. Joseph Matalon
  • Mr. Martin Henry
  • Mr. Danny Roberts

The establishment of NIA grew out of the necessity to raise levels of national integrity and to combat corruption more effectively in Jamaica. The perception of Jamaicans and of the international community is that corruption is unacceptably high in our country and that the corrupt must be deterred, detected and punished. Towards this end NIA has been established to enhance public probity on an all-round basis and build public engagement as well as demand:

  • for new legislation to strengthen transparency and accountability in governance;
  • for enforcement of the law against the corrupt;
  • for ensuring that anti-corruption agencies function effectively;
  • for forging strong ties with national and international partners to achieve more meaningful results in building a corruption-free Jamaica.

In pursuing these purposes NIA shall complement the work of its predecessor and partner, the National Integrity Action Forum, a non-partisan public sector network of heads of anti-corruption agencies established in January 2009. Support for the NIAF and for NIA’s founding and work-programme has come primarily from the RJR-TV Group, the Gleaner Company Ltd, FLOW, private sector entities, USAID and DFID (UK).

NIA was launched on UN International Corruption Day, December 9, 2011, at the Mona Visitors Lodge, University of the West Indies.

Consistent with its non-partisan character, the then Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Hon. Andrew Holness, MP was keynote speaker at the launch and the Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Peter Phillips, MP made a presentation on behalf of the then Leader of the Opposition, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller.

Following the launch, NIA engaged in intense advocacy during the December 2011 election campaign to engage the Jamaican public and political parties in:

  • main-streaming the issue of corruption and the combat of corruption;
  • supporting election campaign finance disclosure;
  • demanding an end to human rights violations prevalent in garrison communities;
  • upholding the provisions of Jamaica’s political Code of Conduct particularly in relation to non-intimidation;

In 2012 and beyond, NIA is focusing on:

  • building public awareness and citizen involvement to enhance integrity, to report acts of corruption and to demand the urgent passage of important anti-corruption legislation; in particular, related to campaign finance disclosure and an effective Special Prosecution system related to corruption offenses;
  • programs to assist in building capacity in anti-corruption institutions;
  • research on the costs of corruption, particularly in its negative impact on the quality of life of the man in the street;
  • strengthening relations with civil society, with youth and students, with the media, with the Jamaican Diaspora, with Transparency International and with Jamaica’s development partners.

Contact:
NIAL Office: 876-970-2733
Toll Free No: 1-888-429-5562
Fax No: 876-702-4283

Stay Informed