Latest update June 13th, 2026 12:39 AM
Integrity Commission has no investigators – Chairman
The Integrity Commission lacks the skills needed to verify truth of declarations by public officials.
Alluding to its mandate, Chairman of the Commission, Kumar Doraisami pointed to a need for investigative staff, who will aid in this regard.
He noted that while the Commission is required to be managed by a chairman and four supporting officials, the Commission currently employs two persons besides the Chairman.
The commission comprises Doraisami and his two supporting Commissioners, Rosemary Benjamin-Noble and Rabindranauth Persaud. They are assisted by the Secretary Amanda Jaisingh.
Speaking at a press conference held at Herdmanston Lodge yesterday, Doraisami reiterated the issues associated with the lack of adequate staff.
“We are all employed elsewhere and we try to meet as often as we can. Sometimes, when someone is sick, we have to wait until that person recovers. The work of the Commission is hampered. We need staff, but we can’t hire people without money,” he said.
Doraisami explained further that, “At present the Commission needs approximately $88 M to cater for all its work—in case of eventualities including training, public awareness programmes and so on.”
“We have to cater for training and hiring investigative officers, so this money will have to be included in a supplementary budget.
We currently don’t have any investigative officers. We are trying to attain some persons with that expertise. Once we have investigative officers, we can go after the persons to properly verify their declarations are true,” Doraisami added, noting that at present the commission needs five investigators to effectively carry out its functions.
The Chairman believes that, at present, there are persons who made declarations but failed to declare all that they should.
“We have to ensure that they comply fully with the law, and if they don’t, then the next stage is what the law recommends, prosecution.
It is in their interest to make declarations and have us secure their integrity to some degree, because when members of the public see you putting up a big house, questions will follow, but if you make your declarations, your integrity is assured.”
Doraisami had previously underscored the need for additional manpower to assist the Commission in the performance of its duties.
The Integrity Commission was established under the laws, which provide for every person who is in public life to make disclosures of their assets.
While the Chairman noted that the declarations were coming in slowly, he stressed that the manpower is needed at the level of the Commission to ensure the forms submitted are authentic.
Additionally, with hundreds of public officers still to declare their assets to the Integrity Commission, there is the view that the penalties need to be strengthened.
Doraisami had previously told Kaieteur News that the newly installed members are examining the offences section of the current legislation and will make their recommendations to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.
“The Act came into force in 1997 and we are looking at the entire legislation to determine where we can strengthen. One of the areas is the penalties. We need to revisit those and toughen them where necessary,” Doraisami stated.
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