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Meaningful contributions – not rejection – needed for impenetrable integrity laws – Trotman
Natural Resources Minister and AFC Leader, Raphael Trotman
Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC) and Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, believes that meaningful contributions are needed – not arguments or rejection – if there is to be a robust Integrity Commission Act to govern the conduct of office-bearers, including Ministers.
The Minister was contacted yesterday to inquire what his thoughts were with regards to the amendment to the Act and revision of the Code of Conduct for Ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs) and Public officials.
Trotman said yesterday that the AFC supports the path taken by the Prime Minister to reinforce the laws.
“We support the Prime Minister and we support the commission, because at the end of the day, we want a commission that is fully functional,” Trotman said, while noting that stakeholders’ support is vital at this juncture.
Trotman said also that many actions prior to the May 2015 elections lacked “legitimacy”.
He therefore lauded the initiative, saying that it is a step in the right direction, as Government moves to ensure that there is transparency and accountability in its operations as “servants of the people”.
It was reported on numerous occasions that the amendments to the act and the revision of the code are necessary to “give some amount of teeth” to the enforcement aspect.
The documents were distributed to the Opposition – the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and other sections of societies including private sector representative bodies and social activist groups for their comments.
According to a source yesterday, comments from the aforementioned entities are yet to be submitted.
The opposition, via its General-Secretary and former Head of State, Bharrat Jagdeo, has made it clear that his party will not be responding. The source of contention is the powers it will supposedly give to the President and the State Minister.
The revision of the Code of Conduct was one of the promises made by the Coalition during their May 2015 elections campaign – which they won.
Six months after getting into Office, the Coalition Administration released its draft Code of Conduct for Ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs) and other public officials, warning against excessive gambling and accepting big gifts, especially from suppliers who do business with the government.
Moreover, the code addresses one of the sore issues of officials accepting gifts, noting that the acceptance of gifts and other forms of reward worth more than $10,000 by ministers, MPs and public office holders in their official capacity shall be reported to the Integrity Commission.
Further, initial reports on the Act, state that Ministers, MPs and public office holders should consider declining such gratuities if the acceptance could be perceived to have an effect on their objectivity and could lead to complaints of bias or impropriety.
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo spoke about the importance of the integrity laws during an oil and gas conference at the Marriott Hotel Kingston, Georgetown last week. He noted that the ‘furor’ which has erupted, does not put a damper on the administration’s aim to ensure that an effective governance system is crafted to shield against “backdoor deals and side agreements”.
The PM said that the government is “uncompromising with regards (to) the avoidance of sleaze and malfeasance in public office.”
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