Delinquents in Parliament

NOT FOR the first time Parliamentarians have flouted the law which requires that they make a statutory declaration of assets, liabilities, and income as at December 31 each year.

The Integrity Commission to which these declarations must be made reported formally to the House of Representatives earlier this week that there is a high rate of incomplete declarations.

What is most alarming is that under provisions of the Integrity Act the Commission is empowered to report delinquent Parliamentarians to the Parliamentary leaders: namely, the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House. Yet among the delinquents this time around are Opposition Leader Edward Seaga, and House Speaker Violet Nielson.

Leading the pack of delinquents are Mike Henry, JLP member for Central Clarendon with 12 outstanding declarations dating back to 1987. Then there is the PNP's Horace Dalley with eight, and George Lyn with five; and the JLP's Ryan Peralto with four outstanding.

It is utterly shameful that the legislators who make the laws should themselves be guilty of flouting these laws. In particular integrity legislation goes to heart of public trust and confidence that is reposed in their function as representatives of the people.

Deliberate defiance as has been stated by some transgressors in the past is no more excusable than road blocking in pursuit of some community grievance.

Earlier this year the Integrity Act was amended empowering the Commission to report not only to the Parliamentary leaders but also to the Director of Public Prosecutions; tabling of the report in Parliament is also mandatory.

We will watch to see whether there will be better compliance, or indeed punitive action, with these amendments now in place.

The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner.

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