Earlier in the news, you saw Senator Michael Peyrefitte explain that the UNCAC process was halted because of the lack of feedback from the unions. And while some may speculate that UNCAC was never fully implemented because of the strict laws and punishments it would impose, Peyrefitte says that's not the case at all since Belize already has some of the strictest laws in the region.
Michael Peyrefitte- Former AG
"We have enough laws as is. What is being recommended by the United Nations pales in comparison to what we already have, you know. What they are giving us was just like finishing touches on different laws. But fundamentally speaking, the laws that we currently have, in terms of the integrity of prevention of corruption in public life, with the integrity commission and what they are empowered to do, the ombudsman, the contractor general. All of these things, these are some offices that many countries don't have, you know. So in terms of laws on the books, hardly there is a country that beats Belize when it comes to laws on the books. It is about enforcement. So, whatever the United Nations was recommending was nothing compared to what we already have. So, it is nonsensical for anybody to say that we did not want to pass laws because the Ministers were afraid. No! Those were light compared to what we already have."
