The Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI) yesterday called on the government to move immediately to set up the Integrity Commission.
Noting that today is the deadline for the declaration of assets by government ministers and other senior government functionaries, TIGI said it is concerned that no commission has been set up to examine such returns or make enquiries.
In a press release, TIGI said ministers, other Members of Parliament and senior public servants, particularly those involved in public procurement and the assessment and collection of government revenues are required to make the declarations. According to the Integrity Commission Act, the deadline for the submission of financial returns for the previous year is June 30, the institute said. It pointed out that Guyana has acceded to two important anti-corruption conventions: the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption. Both conventions require that government put in place an effective mechanism for public officials to submit to the appropriate authority annual declarations of assets.
While it is important for such declarations to be made annually and within the set deadline, the institute is concerned that no commission is in place to scrutinize such returns and to make appropriate enquiries. The law also requires that the three-person commission be assisted by competent professional persons, especially in cases where there are unexplained increases in assets or the omission of significant assets.
“However, no such persons are in the employ of the Commission,” TIGI said in the press release. “In the absence of a duly constituted commission as well as technical experts to assist in the effort, the exercise of making annual declarations of assets is reduced to mere paper work, and the objective of the establishment of the Integrity Commission is not achieved.”
Given Guyana’s low rating and ranking in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), the announcement of the extension of the deadline for submitting financial returns will have little or no impact on the levels of corruption that are perceived to have existed in government, the transparency body said. TIGI urged government to take immediate steps to appoint the commission comprising individuals of the highest level of integrity, professionalism and independence, and to provide it with the level of resources needed for it to discharge its responsibilities effectively to demonstrate that it is serious about fighting corruption. “Any lesser arrangement will remain lip services and a source of concern,” TIGI said.
At the same time the institute is also reminding the government and legislators of the importance of establishing the Public Procurement Commission to monitor the award of contracts for the procurement of goods and services and the execution of works, to ensure fairness, equity, the highest degree of transparency and the best value for money. TIGI contends that establishing this constitutionally mandated commission, along with the Integrity Commission will have a positive impact on the perception about the high levels of corruption in Guyana and on its rating on the CPI. For several years now the integrity commission has been a victim of political gridlock. The life of the last body came to an end in May of 2012 but new appointments are still to be made. This matter has been raised in discussions between President Donald Ramotar and Opposition Leader David Granger. In June last year, Prime Minister Sam Hinds had told Parliament that new members of the Integrity Commission could be sworn-in “within a week”. That is still to happen. The, Prime Minister was speaking after the National Assembly approved a government motion to ensure that Members of Parliament submit annual declarations in keeping with the provisions of the Integrity Act.
