Senior Reporter
dareece.polo@guardian.co.tt
The Integrity Commission (IC) has advised the United National Congress (UNC) to head to Parliament to ensure that amendments are made to the Integrity in Public Life Act (IPLA) to strengthen its ability to take action when officials fail to make declarations.
Chairman, Professor Rajendra Ramlogan, made the comment during a text exchange with Guardian Media yesterday, in direct response to the Opposition’s call for all five members of the commission to resign.
“Members of Parliament do have some measure of control over the parliamentary agenda and can do all within their power to have the issue of amendments to the IPLA addressed in Parliament where the power to make and change law resides,” Ramlogan said.
Ramlogan noted that politicians have a constitutional right to freedom of speech and can therefore express their opinions. However, he reiterated that there was nothing more the commission could have done when Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley failed to declare two properties on Form B when he initially filed his declaration of income, assets and liabilities in 2019.
“The IC did submit proposals for amendments to the IPLA which are yet to be considered by the Parliament. The IC had no control over the parliamentary agenda but will continue to pursue reform of the existing provisions with the relevant authorities. Until there is such reform, the IC must continue to apply the law as it currently is,” he said.
Speaking at a cottage meeting at the Couva South Multipurpose Hall Wednesday evening, however, Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal continued to apply pressure on the Integrity Commission over the issue. He called on Ramlogan, deputy chairman Frederick Gilkes and members Eleanor Bridgeman-Volney, Sandra Honoré and Lyndon Brent James to step down.
“We can state categorically this Integrity Commission has no integrity. None. Every member of the board of commissioners must resign forthwith for what they have presided over,” Moonilal said.
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar had also previously accused the commission of failing to act against the Prime Minister.
However, in his defence, Dr Rowley took to Facebook on Tuesday to publish Form A, which is a confidential document under the IPLA.
It showed where he listed Inez Development, a property he co-owns with his wife Sharon, to the tune of $1.2 million on his declaration forms. However, it also showed the property was listed as $1.2 million when it was actually worth $1.68 million.
Dr Rowley purchased the property from businessman Allan Warner with a discount of over $400,000, which the commission deemed a gift.
However, the IC said the gift was not linked to the Prime Minister’s Office and was therefore not considered inappropriate.