Govt has ‘second thoughts’ on Integrity Act

The PNM, which in opposition supported the Integrity in Public Life Act 2000, is  having “second thoughts” about the legislation. Prime Minister Patrick Manning stated yesterday that “on mature reflection,” the Government, which now has the responsibility for implementing the legislation, had doubts about whether “the net” of persons who must make declarations, was not cast too wide. Manning said the Cabinet wondered whether the number of people brought under the net (1,000) would prejudice the ability of the investigating body to properly discharge its functions. Attorney General Glenda Morean spoke of other difficulties. Citing the fact that many of the current chairmen of state boards had been saying that they would resign if they had to file declarations (of assets and liabilities with the Integrity Commission), Morean suggested that the Act would restrict the number of individuals of quality who would be prepared to serve in public office. The AG added that the Integrity Commission itself purported to act outside of the law when it determined that judges and magistrates were not included in the net, “although the law said they were. And this was part of the problem.”

However the Cabinet yesterday agreed to “beef up” the powers of the Integrity Commission in order to “transform” it into the “State institution” charged with the responsibility of leading the national strategy against corruption. The newly structured Commission would require new legislation being brought to Parliament. The legislation would require a special majority, Morean said. However, she promised that the declaration forms required for the current Integrity Commission to do its job would be brought to parliament as soon as it is reconvened on September 5. Contradicting statements made by the previous Integrity Commission Chairman, Justice Des Iles, who said that the forms were ready since September 2001, Morean said the forms were only submitted to the Attorney General’s office in early 2003 — “either late January or February.” The AG, who said that there was no dereliction of duty on her part, said that the forms were not available for the whole of 2001 and 2002. The forms then went to Cabinet, which sent it to the Legislative Review Committee, she said.