Why did the PPP wait until now to try and bring charges against APNU, AFC politicians for failing to submit Integrity Commission declarations?

Dear Editor, I am flummoxed by the PPP’s sudden urge to go after APNU and AFC MPs for failing to submit constitutionally required declarations to the Integrity Commission for the period 2001 to 2015 (‘PPP/C to pursue private charges against PNCR, APNU MPs who flouted integrity law,’ SN, June 22).

That would have been a period during which the PPP formed the government under Bharrat Jagdeo and then Donald Ramotar, placing the PPP regime in a position to know if any then opposition MP was in breach of the Integrity Act. So why would the PPP wait until it is now out of office to try and bring charges against PNCR/APNU and AFC MPs?

The prevailing speculation is that this is a retaliatory move against the current government for going after former PPP appointees on accusations and charges of corruption or misappropriation of public funds, resulting in the recent revocation of US visas, and the arrest of a former PPP government appointee who fled to Canada.

For the record, the Integrity Act of 1997, which led to the revamping of the Integrity Commission on September 24, 1997, appears to be a paper commission with no real legal teeth. During the tenure of the Chairman, Bishop Randolph George, first appointed by the late Janet Jagan in 1999, the late Desmond Hoyte reportedly refused to recognize his appointment, yet Bishop George was able to publicize the names of MPs who had submitted their declarations, and it was noted in some circles that some opposition PNC MPs did not submit their declarations, perhaps following Hoyte’s refusal to recognize Bishop George’s appointment.

A Stabroek News special feature of

November 4, 2007, ‘Integrity Commission not functioning,’ succinctly captured the comatose state of the commission, thanks in part to the parliamentary opposition PNC not recognizing Bishop George. Former Opposition Leader Robert Corbin actually filed a court suit against the 2005 re-appointment of Bishop George and the four commissioners.

I said thanks in part, owing to the fact the PPP regime appeared to share some blame, because the programme for reform recommended by the World Bank’s 2002 Country Financial Accountability Assessment (CFAA) and the subsequent recommendation by the Fiduciary Oversight Study was being stymied by a lack of funding and direction.

Even the late PNCR Chairman Winston Murray reportedly chimed in that the “Integrity Commission was not constituted in accordance with the laws of Guyana and as such the PNCR does not regard it as a body that was properly constituted”. Bishop George, perhaps frustrated by the lack of recognition and support for his work, would eventually step down in the first quarter of 2006 and there has not been a functioning Integrity Commission since.

In a KN article, ‘Integrity body for public officials currently a toothless poodle,’ (June 11, 2012), then Prime Minister Samuel Hinds tried to bring a parliamentary motion, reportedly to expose delinquent MPs for failing to make annual declarations to the Integrity Commission. APNU’s second in command, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine reacted by pointing out that then APNU leader, David Granger, received a “missive from the Secretariat informing that there was no Chairman and, further, there were no Commissioners in place. As such, APNU’s Members of Parliament have been instructed to prepare their declarations and hold them until a Commission can be put in place to the satisfaction of the Coalition [APNU]”.

Editor, based on the foregoing, I have no idea what sort of traction the PPP hopes to get from its retaliatory move by seeking to bring charges against PNCR/APNU and AFC MPs, because if there is no duly constituted Integrity Commission with a Chairman and commissioners, how can the PPP ask the Ministry of the Presidency to facilitate its request?

It also makes no practical sense for Mr Jagdeo to talk about going after PNCR/APNU and AFC MPs for failing to declare their assets at home and abroad, when the PPP/C government is associated with corruption. At the end of the day, Guyanese everywhere have to ask whether there is any real political will in Guyana to have government institutions function effectively without undue political interference. Mr Jagdeo had twelve years and Ramotar had almost four years to make the Integrity Commission functionally effective by going after any MP who failed to submit constitutionally required declarations, yet he waits until now when PPP associates are being arrested or facing deportation to face corruption charges in Guyana before he finally takes action.

For its part the present government has promised to get the commission up and running. “We want a properly functioning Commission. Right now, what we inherited from the previous administration is unworkable. And you can see the attempts the previous administration made, appointing chairpersons, it was poorly funded and administered and the results are a dysfunctional organization,” declared President Granger.

Then on June 20, (a few days ago), Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo proposed, “What I want to do is kick start the work of the Integrity Commission and to have an Integrity Commission without further delay,” (Guyana Chronicle). We wait with bated breath. Yours faithfully, Emile Mervin