CJ lacks Integrity Form

Chief Justice Sat Sharma has missed today’s deadline to declare his personal integrity under the Integrity in Public Life Act 2000. Contacted yesterday by Sunday Newsday he said he had not yet received the Prescribed Form to declare his personal assets and interests. All judges/magistrates, politicians, directors of State bodies, and top public servants are required to file, with the penalty for a breach being a fine of $250,000 and ten years imprisonment. Sharma remarked: “I have not received any document indicating I should comply. Probably it is on its way.” He said he had heard that other judges had in fact received the forms from the Integrity Commission. Did he think judges should be covered by the Integrity Act?

Sharma replied: “I don’t want to express a view. I don’t know know where it is going.” Sunday Newsday asked whether he thought the Act puts the Judiciary under an obligation that could breach its independence under the concept of the separation of powers of judiciary, executive and legislature. He said he prefered not to comment. Sunday Newday asked him about the Integrity Commission’s requirement that any declarant not receiving a form is required to seek it out from the Commission. Sharama replied: “I expect these problems will be sorted out in the end.”

Legal observers have mused over the possibility where if judges and magistrates did not fill out their Integrity Forms, who in fact would judge their non-compliance? Meanwhile the past fortnight has seen politicians promise to comply with the Integrity Act. Leader of the Opposition Basdeo Panday and  House of Representatives’ Chief Whip Ken Valley each assured that the Opposition and Government members respectively would comply. Of the nine Independent Senators, all five contacted by Newsday gave their assurances.