“We want to give teeth to the Integrity Commission”

Mar 19, 2017 News

– Ramjattan responds to Jagdeo

From all indications, the Coalition Government is moving full speed ahead with its proposal to

Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan

amend the laws governing the Integrity Commission. On Thursday, Vice President and Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan responded to the opposition’s criticisms that the amendments, if effected, will give too much powers to President David Granger and State Minister, Joseph Harmon.
Ramjattan, speaking with reporters on the sideline of a Social Cohesion event on Thursday, said that the government’s aim is to give “teeth” to the Integrity Commission, to ensure that the actual members that fall under its jurisdiction can be investigated as to their declaration.
The Vice President explained that, “You have lots of people declaring that they have two million dollars in the bank, when they have a $200B, but how do we get to know that?” Ramjattan asked.
To answer, he said that there has been a proposal for there to be an investigative team as part and parcel of the legislation.
Ramjattan noted too that at least one recommendation has so far emerged for the commission to also be outfitted with a full-fledged prosecution unit.
Additionally, the Minister said that Cabinet is currently looking over some “prominent names” to be nominated, so that President Granger can be advised on appointments made at the Integrity Commission.
Responding specifically to the aforementioned criticisms made by Former President and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, Ramjattan declared that he sees nothing wrong with the proposed powers being in the hands of President Granger and Minister Harmon, who he referred to as the Head of State’s “closest agent.”
“The President can’t do all the work, so you delegate it,” Ramjattan stated. He went further to declare that, “power ultimately must reside somewhere and we would prefer it to be the President rather than with the former President.”
Ramjattan said firmly too, that the coalition administration, A Partnership for National Unity- Alliance For Change (APNU-AFC), will be forging ahead with its proposal, regardless of what the Opposition thinks.
“He (Jagdeo) didn’t do any of these things. He didn’t do the procurement commission…he didn’t do the bid protest committee. He didn’t start incorporating all these principles and prohibitions that we are now incorporating…he didn’t even appoint the commissioner…we will be doing it,” Ramjattan said.
He added, “We will be doing it and if people vex with us for doing those things, when 2020 come we will be thrown out, but people will then have to reflect and introspect what he did, as against what we did in our five years, and they’ll make their decision.”
Meanwhile, in relation to the Ministerial Code of Conduct, Jagdeo is of the view that the leadership of the coalition administration should perhaps be jailed, since its membership has already breached the code.
“They breach this every single day, they should all be in jail by now…They are all in breach of these codes,” Jagdeo said.

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