PM: Govt to amend the law — retroactive effect must be clear

Saying that he still had reservations about the parent Act, Prime Minister Patrick Manning yesterday opened up the possibility of amendments to the Integrity in Public Life Act to exclude persons whom he feels should not be captured.

Speaking at a post-Cabinet news conference, Manning confirmed that Government was considering amending the law to make it absolutely clear that it had retroactive effect and that persons covered in the Act now have to file their declaration of income, assets and liabilities from 2000 to the present. But the Prime Minister also reiterated his earlier reservations that the net of persons required to file declarations of assets, income and liabilities was just too wide. “So when we talk about amending the law, that is another aspect of the law that we have to consider amending,” he said. But until the parent Act is amended, the bill requires all chairmen and state Boards as well as judges to file their declarations with the Integrity Commission.

Asked what contingency plan Government had to deal with resignations from members of State Boards, Manning said: “We can give assurances to individuals. But that is a hazard of the occupation really. “If people feel that they are not prepared to subject themselves to certain levels of scrutiny — we understand it for private citizens, we certainly do, and for businessmen whose way of life is dealing with money everyday and whose assets and liabilities change on a regular basis, based on business considerations. We understand all of that (their reluctance to file declarations). Let’s see how it goes,” he said. Manning’s statements which open the door to reforming the parent Act come as the declaration forms required by it (the Act) are in the process of  getting full parliamentary approval. By today the declaration forms would become implementable.

In response to a question, the Prime Minister said he did not expect any resignations from his Cabinet or the Government’s parliamentary team as the result of the forms becoming law. “Perhaps you might get on the other side (UNC) ,” he said.