Integrity Commission under the Microscope

Tensions rose in sitting of the Integrity Commission Oversight Committee meeting, on Thursday, October 14, with some Parliamentarians insisting staff of the Commission must likewise declare their assets being paid from the public purse. Some government committee members also took issue with the Auditor General being named as a Commissioner to the Integrity body, requiring legislative intervention.

Who audits the Commission? That is the question that had some members of the Committee concerned. His questions followed this query by another government member. To which the Executive Director, Greg Christie further explained that currently there are external auditors who audits the accounts of the Commission which he said was noted in the report. He further explained that although the Auditor General by law is a designated Commissioner of the Integrity Commission she has been very firm in her position that she can not exercise her constitutional authority which she would have otherwise exercise in this particular instance.

And while the Chairman, Ed Bartlett says the matter is best dealt with from a legislative standpoint, member Warmington insists there has been a breach or a defect in law, He noted that she can not sit as the Commission as this is a breach to the Constitution. The Attorney General intervened and stated that a practical solution had to be found to deal with the issue.

More in this CVM Live story from Neika Lewis: