GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA, January 29, 2009) - The obligation of senior officials in public offices to submit their list of income and assets to the Integrity Commission as required under the Integrity Commission Act of Guyana was discussed in Cabinet at its January 26 meeting.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon during a media briefing today at the Office of the President said that Cabinet considers some Members of Parliament (MPs) who have to date not been compliant as shameful.
The Act which was passed in 1997 requires that a specific list of office holders declare their list of income and assets to the Integrity Commission. Failure to do so will result in a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months. MPs are the first group of senior officials to submit their list of income and assets.
Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo had recently announced that MPs, both government and opposition, would be given two weeks to make their submissions or face the law.
His comments were met by strong criticism by some opposition members who questioned the President’s actions, authority and the constitutionality of the Integrity Commission.
Cabinet has taken note of the body of arguments that arose that was “foisted on the public to accept and even glorify the action of those who are non compliant MPs with the law,” Dr. Luncheon said.
“The bigger picture is the effort to confuse the law about the primacy of disclosure of financial assets of public officials and to create some ambiguity about a commitment to this fundamental aspect of accountability,” the HPS asserted.
He added that the detractors who are attempting to undermine the application of the law are doing so because of the level of accountability and prevention of corruption in public office which the compliance will bring.
“Cabinet noted strangely that many who are maligning the actions of the administration with regards to enforcing compliance with the law, were yesterday the champions of accountability in public office,” Dr Luncheon said.
Guyana News