The main opposition PNCR is sounding alarm bells over the possible appointment of the integrity commission, saying that consultations are yet to be completed.
PNCR Executive Aubrey Norton yesterday said if President Bharrat Jagdeo proceeds to appoint the commission, the party would not recognize it. “We don’t respect illegalities,” he stated, while noting that there is concern among Members of Parliament (MPs), including members belonging to the governing PPP/C, that the body is being set up to carry out witch-hunts.
At the PNCR’s weekly press briefing yesterday, party Executive Clarissa Riehl disclosed that Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, has written to PNCR General Secretary Oscar Clarke about the President’s “anxiety” to immediately conclude the consultation. Riehl said it is well known that PNCR leader Robert Corbin is unavailable as a result of illness. “The PNCR would not be part of the callous and utterly insensitive politics of the Jagdeo administration,” she declared.
President Jagdeo, however, had earlier indicated that Luncheon sought a continuation of the consultation in order to move ahead with the appointment of the commission. “I don’t think we can await the leader of the opposition,” he said, while noting that consultation continued even while he was out of the country, with Prime Minister Samuel Hinds acting in his stead. But Riehl accused President Jagdeo of being hell-bent on appointing a commission, without following the procedures laid down by the Constitution and the Integrity Act. The administration, according to her, is taking advantage of Corbin’s illness to seek to appoint a commission which she said would be hard- pressed to win the confidence and support of the Guyanese people in such circumstances. “The likelihood is that another flawed Integrity Commission would be foisted upon the people of Guyana,” she said.
The consultation process with Corbin was not completed, Riehl pointed out, adding that the Constitution enjoins that the President should have “meaningful consultations” with the Leader of the Opposition before appointing the members of the Commission. In this regard, she said the Constitution defines the detailed process that includes the duty to ensure that each person or entity to be consulted is afforded a reasonable opportunity to express a considered opinion on the subject of the consultation as well as the preparation of a written record of the consultation and the circulation of the decision to stakeholders,
She explained that when Corbin met with Prime Minister Hinds in January this year, the names of four persons were submitted for appointment to the commission. Corbin requested resumes for the four persons but received “limited and imprecise” information from the Office of the President, she said, adding that “very bare information” was subsequently provided for two of the nominees, along with a comprehensive resume for Dr. James Rose, who had been proposed for Chairman of the Commission.
Dr. Rose has since asked to be removed from consideration to be appointed to the body, explaining that anyone in government service is prohibited from holding such a position. The President has said the government would, however, proceed with the appointment of other members and continue consultations on the Chair.
Nevertheless, Riehl maintained that the consultation process with regard to the nominees has not been completed, while there is no proposed nominee after Dr. Rose’s withdrawal. “It is, therefore, a matter of amazement that President Jagdeo could insist that he is now ready to appoint a reconstituted Integrity Commission,” she said.
At the start of the year, Jagdeo issued an ultimatum to MPs to submit their declarations of assets and liabilities to the Integrity Commission or face criminal charges. The opposition parties, however, criticised the constitutionality of the commission and called for it to be reconstituted. President Jagdeo subsequently announced that consultations would start towards resuscitating the commission.
