Media executive Devant Maharaj has filed a constitutional motion against President Max Richards over the head of state's continuing failure to appoint members of the Integrity Commission (IC).The matter is scheduled to be heard in the San Fernando High Court on October 16 before Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh.
Maharaj, who is the Chief executive officer of Radio Jaagriti, is seeking a declaration that the non-appointment of the commission is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates section 138 of the Constitution.
His legal team is led by Sir Fenton Ramsahoye, SC, and includes Anand Ramlogan. They also represented Maharaj in other successful legal actions against the state, including discrimination in not granting the Maha Sabha a broadcast licence and discrimination in Maharaj's professional career at the National Lottery Board.
In his motion, Maharaj pointed out that the members of the last Integrity Commission resigned on February 3 and another commission was not appointed until May 1; all the members of the commission resigned within a week for various reasons.
Read the story: Integrity Commission ceases to exist
Maharaj is contending that since the resignation of the commissioners the president has not appointed any new commissioners. He is arguing that it is unlawful for the Government to operate without a functioning IC.
He is arguing further that several complaints to the commission are pending and cannot be heard because no commission exists.
Maharaj said one matter is in relation to the refusal by the State to award a radio broadcast licence to the Maha Sabha. He said an investigation has been completed and the commission has to decide whether the matter should be referred to the office of the DPP for criminal charges to be laid.
He had written to Richards about the absence of a commission noting that the situation creates "a window of opportunity for corruption, dishonesty and abuse of power."
The president is on record as saying he has difficulty in finding qualified nationals who are willing to serve.
The president has been under pressure from various sources over the Integrity Commission fiasco that saw all commissioners quitting within days of their appointment. And there were calls for his resignation. But he dismissed them all.
Read the story: Quitting is not an option
1 comment:
This is great! I think people don't think about their political leaders as being accessible enough. Damn good idea to start suing them I gather.
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