AG has been consistent

THE EDITOR: The editorial published in the Sunday Newsday of August 17, 2003 accuses the Attorney General of contradicting herself and suggests her comments on the Integrity Commission have been misleading. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Attorney General’s position on the Integrity Commission has been consistent throughout her tenure. Prior to the post-Caribbean press conference of Thursday August 14, the Attorney General’s only position on the Integrity Commission was that Cabinet was considering proposals for strengthening anti-corruption legislation following the report of UK consultant Bernard de Speville.

At no time has the Attorney General stated that the Integrity Commission would be scrapped. Your editorial accuses the government of “actually moving to scrap the Commission and replace it with a new organisation under the same name, one which will require new legislation in any case.” What the Attorney General did in fact announce was the Cabinet decision to keep the Integrity Commission and widen its powers, in keeping with the recommendations of Mr de Speville.

POLICY AND MEDIA RESEARCH UNIT
Ministry of the Attorney General