Oil and Gas will require a robust Integrity Commission …Ram bemoans the sluggish enforcement of disclosure laws for public officials

Jun 03, 2018 News

From left are Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Chairman of the Commission, Kumar Doraisami; Commissioners, Rosemary Benjamin- Noble and Pandit Rabindranauth Persaud and Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan. (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

Chartered Accountant and Attorney-at-law, Chris Ram

When it comes to the Oil and Gas sector, nations have been cautioned by international institutions to take effective measures to deter, detect and prosecute corruption. The Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) for example, has said that an Integrity Commission will be crucial to keeping public officials in check.
But while some locals agree with this notion, they proffer that the APNU+AFC government has not dedicated enough resources to the Integrity Commission so that it can be effective in its duties.
Specifically making this comment was Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram. The lawyer believes that there is a need for stronger enforcement of the Integrity Commission Law.
Ram said, too, that the oil and gas sector will demand a more robust Commission. He said, “Politicians seem to think they must comply (with the disclosure laws under the Integrity Commission Act) when it is convenient and they should be prosecuted for breach of the law.”
The Attorney-at-Law believes that “if the law is not going to be enforced, then it is not a law.”
Ram stated that he is disappointed with the government’s approach to the Integrity Commission, while reiterating that it needs to be strengthened.
He said, too, that after all the promises and accusations made against the previous administration regarding stolen assets, there should have been more action from the Integrity Commission.
CURRENT STATE
The members of the Integrity Commission took their oath of office at the Ministry of the Presidency on February 22, last. The members are Attorneys-at-Law Kumar Doraisami , Thandi McAllister and Rosemary Benjamin-Noble. Pandit Rabindranauth Persaud is also part of the Commission. Its Chairman is Kumar Doraisami.
Their main purpose of the Integrity Commission is to scrutinize public officers to ensure that they do not use their offices for financial gain.
Under the law, public officers including the President, Permanent Secretaries, Director of Public Prosecutions, Auditor General, Commissioner of Police, the Army Chief, Heads of the Service Commissions, Foreign Affairs officials, Judges and Magistrates and Department Heads are required to declare their assets to the commission.
Also required to submit declaration forms of their earnings and gifts received are Regional Executive Officers, the Chief Elections Officer, Mayors, Chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers of state companies, Registrars of Lands and the Commissioner-General of Guyana Revenue Authority, along with Presidential Advisors, and Heads of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and Guyana Forestry Commission.

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