T&T gets new Integrity Commission on March 15

Trinidad and Tobago will have a new Integrity Commission (IC) on Monday.

The country has been without a commission since May last year when all members quit within days of taking their oath of office.

Read the story: Integrity commission ceases to exists

The commission that had been in office before that one had been forced to resign en masse after a High Court judge censured the commission for its handling of a case involving Diego Martin West MP Dr Keith Rowley.

Read the story: Integrity Commission members resign

On Thursday, the Chief State Solicitor wrote the High Court stating that President Max Richards is now prepared to make new appointments.

The President of the Indo-Trinbago Equality Council (ITEC), Devant Maharaj, filed a constitutional motion in October 2009 claiming that his constitutional rights were being violated by the continuing failure and/or refusal by the President to appoint a new Integrity Commission.

Maharaj noted that he had several complaints pending before the commission and pointed out that his complaints could not be investigated in the absence of a commission.

His complaints included:

• discrimination by the state in the Maha Sabha Radio License Case
• discrimination against the Maha Sabha by refusing to grant permission for it to construct a Hindu Temple in Tobago
• the Failure of Commissioner of Police James Philbert to take action against the PNM for the political rally it held in Woodford Square on September 10th 2008 without permission
• the construction of a church in dubious circumstances where no Town and Country Planning permission was granted

Maharaj’s case was heard by Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh on 4th February 2010 and the judge had promised a judgment this month.

When the matter came up before the court Thursday the judge advised Maharaj that the president informed the court that the president has completed the selection of new commissioners, who will take their oaths of office on Monday.