As the Integrity Commission pursues its statutory mandate to ensure that persons in public life file declarations of income, assets and liabilities and statements of registrable interests as required by law, it has noted with increasing concern that its staff members are being subject to verbal abuse by a small minority of persons in public life. The Commission must emphasise that there is no justification for the abuse of persons tasked with enforcing the law.
The Commission wishes to state that integrity legislation is not unique to Trinidad and Tobago. In fact, in Caribbean countries such as Jamaica, Grenada and Dominica, the law establishes an Integrity Commission, whose purpose is to ensure transparency, accountability and integrity in public life by overseeing and reviewing compliance with the provisions of the law. In 2015, twelve (12) Caribbean countries formed the Commonwealth Caribbean Association of Integrity Commissions and Anti- Corruption Bodies, in order to exchange knowledge. In other Commonwealth countries, such as Australia and Singapore, anti-corruption bodies are also empowered through anti-corruption legislation that gives them the means to investigate and deter corruption.
We acknowledge and are grateful to the vast majority of persons in public life who exercise professionalism in their interaction with the Commission, and we look forward to the same from all persons in public life.
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