Senator Says PEP Should Extend to Certain Public Officers

Mark Lizarraga

The Integrity Commission is tasked, under the Prevention of Corruption Act, to investigate declared statements of assets and liabilities of persons in public life. Those politically exposed persons, identified as ministers of government, senators, political appointees and high level government officials, should by law file their respective financial statements one year before they took office and every year until they demit office.  A number of parliamentarians, we are told, have not been complying.  Today, Senators Elena Smith and Mark Lizarraga spoke about their experience when filing, but Lizarraga goes on to say that he believes that PEP should extend to certain public officers as well.

Mark Lizarraga, Senator for Business Community

“I have been filing since 2011, much to my disgust when I found out—because it is a lot of paper work and a lot of time to compile—much to my disgust when I heard that only reports from 2016 onwards will be looked at, which to me is contrary to the law because the law is very clear that you should file from the year before you get into office until after you leave. I think as well that many people that should file. For example, me noh spend money for government and I don’t receive money for government. Why should I file? Matters not; that is the law we have to do it.”

Reporter

“You can be bribed to vote a certain way in the Senate.”

Mark Lizarraga

“Okay, I see. Okay. Well then fine, we file.  But my point is that many people that we believe that should be filing; heads of department—I am talking about the public service here—are not. I am talking about customs officers, police people with power. Interestingly enough, even people in the public health department; anybody that has government power, we believe that it should be expanded; that that net should capture more of people in the service of the public.”