P.U.P. Says Prime Minister is Covering Up on Integrity Commission

This afternoon, the People’s United Party continued its assault on the Integrity Commission’s decision to look at only declarations of public figures for the year 2016. The Party argues that the decision, made on the basis that the Prevention of Corruption Act is unclear on the power of the Commission to be retroactive; that no prosecution bar exists for the period past five years, and that it would be difficult to get records for that time period unless they already exist.  But is the Prime Minister moving to cover up for his Ministers flouting the law? Opposition Leader, John Briceño, told the press today that he certainly thinks so.

John Briceño

John Briceño, P.U.P. Leader

“I dare say that he knows; that’s why he does not want to answer; and that he would be very embarrassed to be able to say that his Ministers are refusing to file. That is why he does not want to give the answer; and if he doesn’t know, he can pick up the phone and call and by Monday, he could call you all and tell you yes, they have filed. I believe that the Prime Minister has a moral responsibility to this nation. He was elected on a platform against corruption – that he was not going to tolerate corruption. You remember the famous words about the double-edged machete, in 2004, that he was not going to tolerate the whiff of corruption? So even if – and I do not agree – even if the Integrity Commission does not have the legal authority to demand for Ministers and representatives to file from 2011, the Prime Minister has a moral responsibility to this nation, based on the platform that he was elected in 2008, to demand that every minister file their reports.”

The P.U.P.’s legal team has been asked to scour the Act to find whether there are loopholes in the law. According to Briceño, the P.U.P. parliamentarians have filed their declarations for 2016, though he had to ask for an extension for himself.