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FM
Former Member

MPs, Gov’t officials to comply with Integrity Commission Act

 

Georgetown, GINA, June 15, 2012

Source - GINA

 

Last evening the National Assembly approved a motion, after a lengthy debate, which will see all elected officials, more so Members of Parliament (MPs) in particular, complying with the Integrity Commission Act which was made into law on September 24, 1997. Failure to comply will result in their names being published in the Official Gazette or a daily news paper.

 

Moving the motion, Prime Minister and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Samuel Hinds, argued that the motion was meant to encourage each MP to lead the way in conforming with the integrity law so that they can truly lead the way in all Guyana by subjecting themselves to the law of the land.

 

“This is not a draconian thing; we know that the law has in it great penalties…we are not saying that the penalties should not apply but we are seeking here to get the positive support of this House,” Mr. Hinds argued.

 

He said the claim that the Integrity Commission has not been established with the requirements of Section 3 of the Integrity Act is not so.

 

Government’s Chief Whip and Presidential Advisor on Governance, Gail Teixeira in support of the motion said it would be a good signal to society and to young MPs, to set a tone which would be good, despite differences which may exist.

 

She added that whilst the Commission was resolved in May of this year, President Donald Ramotar is advised of three names for members of the Commission, whilst the Opposition is yet to submit their names.

 

“By the time this motion is passed…the Commission will be constituted … in 1994 a list of names was published of defaulters who were all members of the PNCR party, including Regional Chairmen and so on,” Teixeira explained.

 

She added that in other parliaments around the world, the instance an MP is sworn in, he/she proceeds to the Registry and makes voluntary declarations of his/her assets and income of earning, as such, this motion seeks to ensure that is done in Guyana.

 

“This House will be the standard bearer in terms of compliance with the Integrity Commission Act…all the members of both sides will be big enough that if it is brought to the attention that one is in arrears or not in compliance, it would not be seen as a front but one should seek to get themselves in order,” Teixeira said.


Meanwhile, APNU MP Deborah Backer, who moved the amendments to the motion said that her party had no problem with the principles of submitting their finances, income to a duly constituted Integrity Commission.

 

She argued that the reason for the proposed amendments is that section 3 (a) of the Integrity Commission Act 1997 speaks to the commissioning of such a Commission, which has not been done.

 

Leader of the Opposition David Granger said that is disappointing that after the Integrity Commission Act has been passed, “we are still at this stage… the Tenth Parliament should turn the corner and leave for the Guyanese people a working and valid Integrity Commission Act,” Granger said.

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