Dear Editor,
The chairman of any constitutional service commission should possess the following qualities:
1. Be able to uphold the integrity and independence of that commission
2. Be able to perform the duties of the office fairly, impartially and diligently
3. Be able to refrain from political activity.
To be more specific, and in step with the spirit of the Constitution, a Chairman of any of the constitutional service commissions should not:
• act as a leader or hold any office in a political organisation;
• make speeches for a political organisation or candidate, or publicly endorse or oppose a candidate for public office; or
• solicit funds for, pay an assessment to, or make a contribution to a political organisation or candidate; or attend or purchase a ticket for a dinner or other event sponsored by a political organisation or candidate.
If such a situation arises, then such a chairman must resign and vacate their office forthwith in order to protect the integrity of that constitutional service commission.
As Head of the Local Government Commission, whose main function is to deal with all matters relating to the local government system, Mr Mortimer Mingo is expected to be free of party affiliation, and is certainly expected not to hold a leadership position in a political party if the perception is to be preserved that he is independent, without bias, and is fit to carry out his functions professionally and objectively.
In this regard, I am calling upon Mr Mingo to immediately resign and immediately vacate the office of the Chairman of the Local Government Commission. Why? He was elected to the executive of the People’s National Congress Reform at its August 2018 Congress. His engagement in such public political activity prevents him from being a fair actor on the Local Government Commission. You cannot be the regulator and the regulated at the same time.
This situation will be the test of Mr Mingo’s integrity, and by extension his appointer, His Excellency President David Granger.
Sincerely,
Sasenarine Singh
