Several opposition parliamentarians who faced a fine and jail for not submitting their statutory declarations for 2022 to the Integrity Commission say that they have now complied.
Deonarine Ramsaroop and Vinceroy Jordan who were among the listed defaulters said that their declarations were submitted before the July 31st, 2023 deadline as outlined in a public notice from the Commission.
The Integrity Commission on June 24th 2023 issued a final and stern warning to former Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon, AFC Leader & Member of Parliament Khemraj Ramjattan alongside a host of senior public servants stating that they were liable to fines and jail terms if they didn’t submit declarations by July 31st, 2023.
A notice in the Official Gazette also listed the following former and current MPs as being in jeopardy of fines and jail terms: Dawn Hastings-Williams, Dr Nicolette Henry, Dr Karen Cummings, Sherod Duncan, Shurwayne Holder, Deonarine Ramsaroop, Vinceroy Jordan and Devin Sears.
No government MP was on the list.
Harmon when contacted also signalled submission of his financial declarations.
Solicitor General in the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Nigel Hawke and Chief Executive Officer of the National Procure-ment and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), Arvind Parag along with senior officials of the Ministry of Public Works were also on the list of defaulters for public service officials.
On the list from the latter ministry were Vladim Persaud, Permanent Secretary; Ron Rahaman, Chief Roads and Bridges Officer; Kevin Samad, Chief Sea and River Defence Officer; Patrick Thompson, Chief Transport Planning Officer; Collin Gittens, Engineer (civil); Kester Hinds, Manager – Traffic/safety/maintenance; Andy Mahadeo – Procurement and Contracts Manager.
Samad when contacted by this newspaper said all of his financial assets were submitted.
Diplomats were among those cited. They included George Talbot, Guyana’s Ambassador to CARICOM, Department of Americas; Choo An Yin, Ambassador to China and Donnette Streete, Senior Foreign Service Officer 1, Frontiers.
Former High Commissioner to India Charrandass Persaud was also on the list.
In May of this year, the Integrity Commission issued a warning to public officers who had not submitted their 2022 declarations.
The Integrity Commission had disclosed that notices were sent out to several Specified Public Officers for failure to file their declarations.
At that time, seventeen Members of Parliament were listed as delinquent, with 108 in ministries, 208 in the regions, and 493 in agencies and departments.
The body noted that if these individuals failed to submit their Declaration Forms on or before July 31, 2023 legal action will be taken and they are liable to a fine of $25,000 together with six months jail time or not more than a year, it further stated, a fine of $10,000 per day will be handed out to the same individuals if they still fail to comply.
On August 12th, 2023 the Integrity Commission from the official gazette served a notice to 184 regional officials and councilors who had failed to submit their declaration for the 2022 period (1st July, 2021 to 30th June 2022).
The defaulters include the Chairman of Region Five, Vickchand Ramphal; Chair-man of Region Seven, Kenneth Williams; Chairman of Region Eight, Headley Pio; Chairman of Region Nine, Bryan Allicock; Chairman of Region 10, Deron Adams.
Williams when contacted by this newspaper to verify whether his declaration was submitted said that he and his accountant are currently putting systems in place to get this done as soon as possible.
“I encountered some delays in that regard but I am working with my accountant to get this done as soon as possible” he related.
The list also includes Region One Regional Executive officer (REO), Tikaram Bisesar; former Region Two REO, Devanand Ramdatt and Region 10 REO, Dwight John.
Many regional councilors are in default.
In Region Four alone, 27 out of 30 councillors have not submitted their declarations.
The Integrity Commission said that the 184 persons are requested to submit their declaration form on or before September 30, 2023.
Continued failure will now constitute an offence which stipulates a fine together with imprisonment.
