The Integrity Commission in a notice in yesterday’s Stabroek News reminded all specified persons in public life to submit their 2023 Financial Declarations by today.
The notice stated that all specified persons in public life are asked to take note of their statutory obligations to submit an annual declaration of their assets and liabilities including those for themselves, spouse, and children. They have also been reminded to submit any outstanding declaration forms along with supporting documents.
The Commission made it clear that non-compliant persons (those who failed to submit their declarations) are liable to a fine of $25,000 together with six months of imprisonment.
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 would be taken and they would be liable to a fine of $25,000 together with six months jail time or not more than a year. It further stated that a fine of $10,000 per day would be handed out to the same individuals if they still fail to comply.
On August 12, the Integrity Commission served notice in the Official Gazette to 184 regional officials and councillors who had failed to submit their declarations for the 2022 period (July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022).
The defaulters include the Chairman of Region Five, Vickchand Ramphal; Chairman of Region Seven, Kenneth Williams; Chairman of Region Eight, Headley Pio; Chairman of Region Nine, Bryan Allicock; and Chairman of Region Ten, Deron Adams.
There has been no formal word from the Integrity Commission on the status of these submissions.
The Integrity Commission on June 24 had 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 did not submit declarations by July 31.
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.
There has been no formal word from the Integrity Commission on the status of these submissions though several of the Opposition MPs when contacted by this newspaper last month indicated they had submitted their declarations to the commission.
