Mark: It’s madness

Mark recalled that it was PNM MPs, such as Colm Imbert, who called for the inclusion of board members and members of the Judiciary in the Integrity in Public Life Act when it was being debated in the Parliament.

"What has changed? The only thing is that one man called Calder Hart is now presiding over $30 billion in construction funds. And Government is telling me that they don’t want such persons to declare their assets. Has this Government gone mad?" Mark asked.

Mark said the directors of the Special Purpose State Enterprises had control over billions of dollars. He said there was "rampant corruption" at the Sports Company. He said in this period of "widespread corruption, nepotism and favouritism, there was an urgent need for State board members to be accountable. "Where has the Prime Minister’s lofty ideal of making this country a beacon of integrity gone?" he asked. He described as "spurious" the Prime Minister’s explanation that the amendment to the integrity legislation was needed for Government to attract the right calibre of people to serve.

Saying that he was expressing his personal views as UNC Deputy Political Leader, Mark said that the UNC’s national executive and the parliamentary caucus would be discussing the PM’s proposal and would make a final determination on where the party stood on this matter.