The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Yesterday, the National Council (NC) invited the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) to seek counsel on the process and methodology of corruption risk management (CRM) within the NC Secretariat.
The CRM is regarded as an important management tool used to minimize corruption-risks in agencies. So far, the ACC has identified18 agencies on potential corruption risks and causes.
The focus of the workshop was on human resource management and the use of entertainment budget by the NC Secretariat.
The day was spent on brainstorming, discussions on possible and identification of risks, its management, causes, analysis, and on the identification of measures.
The Deputy Chairperson, Dr. Sonam Kinga, said the ACC conducted CRM as it was one of the measures to prevent corruption as highlighted in the ACC annual report.
“The NC feels its a very important and effective preventive measure, so one of the NC recommendations to the ACC this year is to conduct CRM in all agencies, beginning with agencies where the risk is high,” said Dr. Sonam Kinga.
He said, to set an example, the NC invited the ACC to conduct this exercise, not because NC was corrupt. “we are doing it more as a proactive initiative to show NC’s support to ACC’s anti-corruption drive.”
The ACC presented the process of CRM and identified risks, possible risks, and the specific risks to the meeting.
The risks identified were on the leakage of online security information , destruction of information (complaints), leakage or manipulation of information, impersonation, information trade, misuse of office resources, and risk of inappropriate decision-making.
The ACC Director Rinzin Dorji, pointed out nepotism, abuse of authority, collusion and bribery, embezzlement in procurement, leakage of information related to asset declaration on identified risks.
He said the agencies should be specific on identifying measures.
The commission stated agencies should draw up time-frame for each responsible divisions to implement measures and monitor the implementation action-plan.
He said the agencies can conduct a bi-annual monitoring system.
NC Chairperson Namgye Penjore said, “with this workshop, the NC will be able to identify the areas and curb corruption practices.”
He said “the commission will have NC’s support in terms of legislation and also through advocacy in the constituencies on how to fight corruption”.
The NC Chairperson said outcome of this workshop could make the NC think remedies to fight corruption. “I hope other agencies too will call the ACC to conduct such activities in their organizations,” he said.
The NC also decided to work with the ACC, to review why the National Anti-Corruption Strategy Framework (NACS) implementation had been sluggish.
The ACC report states that even after three years of the NACS’s adoption, its implementation has been sluggish for various reasons, the primary reason being lack of ownership and accountability.
While it is good that the NC is being proactive for once, the more important thing to have are fast track courts where all corruption cases are tried as fast as possible. I know this would mean more man power etc but without it, sadly we will be fighting a losing battle against corruption. Also if the accused wastes the courts and governments time by appealing to a higher appellate court just for sake of prolonging the case, his/her sentence should increase significantly so that there would be fewer of such appeals, ie the Samtse mining case and many others.
It is indeed gratifying to note that NC is supporting acc for their anti-corruption drive. In order to its claim Bhutan as country of GNH, the foremost thing is to wipe out corruption in Bhutan and clean up foundation ground so that seed of GNH can germinate otherwise every efforts made bear fruits. In acheiving this ofcourse the judiciary also have to be proactive.