New Integrity Commission fully constituted, appointed

…after PNC paralysed its performance for several years

After years of being inactive, the Integrity Commission was given new life on Thursday when its members were sworn in.
The oath of office was administered by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the presence of Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who handed over the Instrument of Appointments to three of four members.
The new members of the Commission are Chairman Kumar Doraisami, Rabindranauth Persaud and Rosemary Benjamin-Nobel. The fourth member, Thandi McAllister, was unable to attend and would be sworn in at a later date.

Speaking with reporters following the simple ceremony at the Ministry of the Presidency, the newly appointed Chairman of the Integrity Commission said the focus of the newly reconstituted body would be enforcement.
“We will be looking at enforcement of the (Integrity) Act because I don’t think it was fully enforced before, I can’t say because I wasn’t around then. But I do know that with the combination of people we have in the Commission, we will be able to put the Act into force,” Doraisami, a former Magistrate noted.
Meanwhile, in congratulating the newly appointed Commissioners, Minister Harmon informed them that their task will be especially challenging.
“I wish to remind the new Commissioners that their assignment will be especially challenging as you seek to accomplish the aims and requirements of the Act and the expectations of our citizens to demand the integrity of person in public office,” he stated.
The Integrity Commission is responsible for accountability of persons holding public office. The body has been without a Chairman for some time and was reportedly functioning with a skeletal staff since the 2006 resignation of the Commission’s Chairman, Bishop Randolph George.
As such, President David Granger a few weeks ago obtained the approval of the four nominees from Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo following consultations.
From the beginning of the Integrity Commission’s mission, the People’s National Congress has stymied its effectiveness when it refused to accept Bishop George as Chairman. The party refused to submit information on assets and other personal financial transactions. The Alliance For Change followed their lead after it was formed. In the meantime, the People’s Progressive Party and other smaller parties made submissions.
In fact, the PPP/Civic Opposition had tabled a motion that would have provided for all Members of Parliament (MPs) to make public declarations of taxable income and all assets over the last 10 years to the Integrity Commission, which would then be released to the public.
However, the coalition Government used its one-seat majority to vote against the motion, saying it was not in favour of the public declaration, and would prefer to make such disclosures to the Integrity Commission instead. It had said that such a move would violate the privacy of members.
To this end, Government passed the motion after amending it to support the enforcement of the legal requirement for all MPs to file their Income Tax returns and make declarations only to the Integrity Commission.