Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira has disclosed that the process of installing a new Integrity Commission board has commenced and she is hopeful that new members will be appointed shortly.
Teixeira made this known during the consideration of the estimates for the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance on Wednesday after opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Ganesh Mahipaul, asked whether a commission is in place since just over $69.2 million had been allocated for the Integrity Commission.
The Minister noted that the Integrity Commission board expired on February 21 but the process to appoint a new board has commenced. She expressed the hope that this would be done within a short period of time.
However, she informed that the commission still has staff members and included in the allocation are salaries and other allowances which will allow for the staff to function until a new board has been installed. “It has expanded staff and there are now investigators and they continue to function with reports received last year and until the new board comes in.”
She also disclosed that President Irfaan Ali has since begun the processes required to reinstate the board.
When asked whether the Leader of the Opposition is allowed to recommend persons to be appointed on the board, Teixeira responded that the Integrity Commission act allows for the President to consult with the Opposition Leader but it is not mandatory that a mutual decision be made. She pointed out that Harmon can submit his recommendations but it entirely up to the President to decide who to appoint to the board.
However, she added, the president must follow the criteria for selecting persons to sit on the board as is stated in the Act.
“The Integrity Commission Act advises on the selection of the persons in terms of integrity and background so we can’t just select ‘higgly piggly’ or anybody. It has to be someone with integrity because this is where records of all officials are kept and reviewed,” she explained.
Teixeira subsequently stated that the she hopes that the opposition Members of Parliament improve their track record in submitting their integrity reports, before adding that even with a board not in place MPs can still submit their reports which will be kept at the commission until a new board is appointed to review the submissions.
