T&T’s Integrity Commission Issues Warning

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, July 19, 2016 (CMC) – The Integrity Commission, today, warned it is prepared to go to court to get more than 1,400 people in public life, here, to file a declaration, or a statement of registrable interests.

In a statement, the Commission said that it had published the names of over 1,400 persons, who have failed to meet their obligations for the period 2015, in the local newspapers.

“Since the publication of names in the daily newspapers, just over 10 percent (10%) of Persons in Public Life whose names were published, have since complied with the IPLA (Integrity in Public Life Act), the Commission said.

It warned persons in public life, who have not yet complied with the legislation, “that they are to do so immediately, as the Commission intends (without further notice) to make ex parte application to the High Court for orders directing such persons to comply with the Act, and for the imposition of such conditions as it thinks fit”.

According to the Commission, people in public life have to “file Declarations of Income, Assets and Liabilities and Statements of Registrable Interests for periods up to 2015 (and) that their names are reproduced in the Official Trinidad and Tobago Gazette, published by the Government Printery.

It reminds defaulters that the Commission may, at any time after the publication, “make an ex parte application to the High Court for an order directing such persons to comply with the Act and the Court may, in addition to making such an order, impose such conditions as it thinks fit”.

“A person who fails to comply with the directions of the Court, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of TT$150,000 (One TT dollar=US$0.16 cents),” the Commission added.