Panday: PNM confused about integrity

OPPOSITION LEADER Basdeo Panday yesterday said Attorney General Glenda Morean’s contradictory statements about the Integrity Commission indicate mass confusion within the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) on the issue of integrity.

On Sunday, Morean denied there was any decision to scrap the Commission and said President George Maxwell Richards was in the process of making appointments for the new Commissioners. Newsday understands that three new Commissioners will be sworn in tomorrow at President’s House. However Panday told Newsday the AG’s statements clearly indicate that the PNM has no idea what it wants to do about the Commission. “Obviously, the PNM had no plan. It is an indication that they have no legislative agenda,” he declared. The United National Congress (UNC) leader said he clearly recalled that on July 5, Morean told the Senate that the Commission would be either “restructured” and “re-engineered” or even completely replaced by an Anti-Corruption Commission. Panday maintained that the original Integrity legislation drafted under the UNC was the best way to proceed. “That is why we put it forward,” he stated. According to AG Morean, the UNC’s legislation would have involved the creation of two anti-corruption bodies — the Integrity Commission operating under the Integrity in Public Life Act and the Anti-Corruption Commission operating under the Prevention of Corruption Act, which the UNC planned to amend.

Morean said two options which will be considered by Cabinet on Thursday will be either the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Commission envisioned by the UNC (with some adjustments) to replace the Integrity Commission or a strengthened Integrity Commission. She explained that in either case legislation which requries Opposition support would have to be brought to Parliament. Morean was optimistic that the UNC would support that legislation. However Panday said he could not give that assurance because Government has not consulted the Opposition on that matter.