Ex-PM, ministers still under integrity probe

Some 36 matters, several involving Government Ministers and a former prime minister, remain under investigation at the Integrity Commission. This is according to the commission’s latest annual report, dated March 2013, which was laid in the Senate yesterday. The term of the current commissioners has expired and new President Anthony Carmona is expected to appoint new commissioners soon.  

Among the matters listed as still being investigated by the commission for breaches of the Integrity in Public Life Act  are:
• Complaint alleging that a minister may have influenced the award of contracts by the Airports Authority.
• Complaint against alleged conflict of interest by officials of Caribbean Airlines in the award of a contract.
• Complaint of breach by the Attorney General in the performance of his duty.
• Complaints (two) of corruption against a former prime minister in respect of agreement entered into with the Jamaat al-Muslimeen.
• Complaint requesting an investigation into the receipt of US $40,000 by a minister from the general secretary of the T&T Football Federation.
• Complaints alleging a breach by the Tobago House of Assembly in a Bolt arrangement with Milsherv.
• Investigations to determine the circumstances under which property was acquired by the former Minority leader of the THA.

The report said the Integrity Commission completed 47 investigations last year, while it received 83 in the same year. Chairman of the Integrity Commission, Kenneth Gordon, said in the report the commission had challenges last year. He said one of the challenges stemmed from a report in a daily newspaper which alleged that National Security Minister Jack Warner had failed to report his income held in a credit union. 

According to Gordon, the minister claimed that information was leaked by the Integrity Commission. Gordon said Warner’s allegation was “immediately referred to the police and requested a speedy investigation into the matter.” He said the commission eagerly awaits the police report.