?It took ten full months, but President George Maxwell Richards was finally able, yesterday, to swear in a new Integrity Commission, in which only former Industrial Court member, Gladys Gaffoor, survived the debacle of 2009.
Of the five who resigned from the Commission in May, 2009, Gaffoor was the only survivor, being asked once again by Richards to sit on the controversial body. Last time, she was an ordinary member; this time around she is the deputy chairman of the commission, the only one with legal experience. Gaffoor, a former senior magistrate, was a member of the commission which was sworn in on May 1, 2009, but the other four resigned within days: Fr Henry Charles, chairman, Justice Zainool Hosein, Jeffrey McFarlane, and Lylla Rosa Bada. The new commission is headed by former Independent Senator, Eric Baldwin St Cyr. Other members are: Neil Rolingson, former president and chief executive officer of Point Lisas Industrial Port Development Corporation Ltd (Plipdeco); Dr Anne Marie Bissessar, professor, Behavioural Sciences Department at University of the West Indies, St Augustine; and Sieunarine Jokhoo, retired Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
There was an air of expectancy yesterday as there was a full turnout of the media to witness the swearing-in of the new members, the majority of whom were kept a secret from the public. Of the faces, Gaffoor was the only one returning to President's House. She resigned from the commission only last May, because the other four had resigned, and she alone could not constitute a quorum. Gaffoor, who acted as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Solicitor General, walked with her son, Anthony, who is chairman of the Tax Appeal Board, and her "spiritual adviser," Fr Reginald Hezekiah, of St Charles RC Church, Tunapuna. St Cyr, a pastor of Faith Revival Ministries, also walked with his spiritual head, Rev Baird, to witness the short ceremony. In his brief address, Richards stayed away from the controversy surrounding the collapse of the last commission, and the delay in appointing this one.
He did not comment on reports that people he had approached, were vetoed by the Prime Minister. The President said: "May I express my appreciation to members of the Integrity Commission, their families and friends, and the media for attending this short ceremony." Richards said these members were chosen after consultation with Prime Minister Patrick Manning, and former Leader of the Opposition Basdeo Panday. At the end of the ceremony, Richards said: "Let me, once again, express my sincere appreciation to these members, worldly citizens, who not only expressed their willingness to serve, but their enthusiasm."
After the ceremony, members of the media waited on St Cyr for a comment, but none came. What came from the President was that the chairman of the commission would like to make a statement, but only after he "settles into office." Members of the media were then ushered out of President's House, as Martin Farrell, Registrar of the Integrity Commission, administered the oath of secrecy.