AG and Govt integrity at stake today

ATTORNEY GENERAL John Jeremie will be called upon to honour his word and  Government’s commitment to pass critical integrity legislation when the House of Representatives sits at 1.30 pm today.  Last week, the Senate approved a Joint Select Committee report on the Integrity in Public Life (Prescribed Forms) Regulations 2003 and the Integrity in Public Life (Furnishing of Information) Regulations 2003, and today the Lower House will be called on to do the same. One of the report’s recommendations is that declarations of assets be made retroactive to the year 1999. Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Jeremie reiterated Govern-ment’s commitment to pass the report in the Lower House, but today the Opposition UNC is certain to test Jeremie and the PNM’s commitment to integrity.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning previously said Government was committed to approving the integrity forms in Parliament and amending the Integrity in Public Life Act 2000 to make declarations retroactive to 1999, but hinted that the net of persons required to declare their assets to the Integrity Commission could be narrowed. On Tuesday, Jeremie said Government is yet to examine the parent act and was not in any position to say whether the net would be widened or narrowed. The chairmen and Board members of several State enterprises have reportedly signalled their intention to resign if they have to declare their assets. On Wednesday, members of the Judiciary expressed concern that they would have to declare their assets to the Commission.

Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday has questioned the Government’s intentions on integrity legislation while former AG Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj recalled that Manning and Government Ministers Colm Imbert and Dr Keith Rowley advocated for “a wider net” when the PNM was in Opposition in 2000. Today’s sitting will also see Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar seeking answers from Jeremie about the amount of money owed by Manning to the State “arising out of his unsuccessful 1997 High Court actions” and the cost of the installation ceremony and cocktail reception for members of the Regional Judicial and Legal Service Commission, which will appoint members of the Caribbean Court of Justice.  A Private Members motion filed by St Joseph MP Gerald Yetming calling upon Parliament to reaffirm its commitment to equality of treatment in Trinidad and Tobago is also listed for debate. Yetming’s charge that “ethnic cleansing” at Petrotrin and alleged discrimination at other State agencies proves that the PNM has institutionalised discrimination since returning to power in December 2001. The Opposition said new revelations of affairs at Petrotrin could be made at today’s sitting.