All eyes on Speaker as IC submits reports of four investigations
FOUR Integrity Commission (IC) reports on investigations and the related rulings of its director of corruption prosecution could be tabled in the House of Representatives next Tuesday.
While following its operating procedure and not indicating the nature of the report, the IC, in a media release on Wednesday, said the reports and rulings were submitted to Parliament and signed for at 1:50 pm.
According to the commission, hard copies of the reports were submitted in separate envelopes, under cover of identical letters, addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Juliet Holness, President of the Senate Tom Tavares-Finson, and Clerk to the Houses of Parliament Valrie Curtis.
The commission added that the indicative rulings were also similarly addressed and submitted in separate envelopes. A USB flash drive with PDF electronic copies of all documentation submitted was also sent.
“The Integrity Commission anticipates that its investigation reports, which were submitted pursuant to and in conformance with Section 54 of the Integrity Commission Act, together with the associated Indicative Rulings, will be tabled in both Houses of Parliament as soon as possible,” said the commission in the release.
Members of the House of Representatives have been at odds in recent weeks about how to treat reports from the Integrity Commission and the Auditor General’s Department.
In a recent ruling, Holness said investigation reports from the commission will be tabled after they are received.
“Reports of the director of investigation submitted under Section 54 (4) will be tabled as soon as possible after receipt by the Parliament, having regard to the serious nature of the matters that are contained therein. It will be requiring the immediate and direct attention of the House.
“After it is tabled it will then be submitted to the Integrity Commission Oversight Committee for their consideration and report. Kindly note, all reports from the Integrity Commission will be reviewed by the officers before they are tabled and will be tabled in the soonest possible time. No effort will be made to delay such reports,” said Holness.
