Is the IC seeking to usurp its authority?
Dear Editor,
In a release dated February 29, 2024 the chairman of the Integrity Commission (IC), Justice (Ret’d) Seymour Panton, disclosed that the IC is to have discussions regarding recent utterances by a former minister responsible for works.
A review of Section 6 of the Integrity Commission Act sets out in detail the functions of the commission. The functions disclose there is no basis on which the IC has any function which allows discussion and/or investigation of political utterances, no matter how ill-advised they may be, by Members of Parliament or ministers of government, as opposed to actions taken by such individuals. There is no function assigned to the commission to pursue or investigate statements that are best described as a “running off of the mouth” without engaging the brain. To do so is to usurp the function of the political ombudsman.
The manner in which the IC carries out its functions is of concern to well-thinking individuals and the chairman is duty-bound to ensure that the commission complies with all the provisions of the Act lest actions inimical to its functions cause the public to lose confidence in its integrity.
Abe Dabdoub