Government passes motion to establish Anti Corruption Commission

Government used its majority in the Parliament just before dawn on Thursday to pass a motion to appoint a Joint Select Committee (JSC) to consider amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act, to establish a Anti-Corruption Commission. 

The opposition voted against it.

In wrapping up the debate Attorney General Anand Ramlogan knocked down several arguments by the opposition, including one that suggested that the Anti-Corruption Commission would duplicate the work of the Integrity Commission.

Ramlogan said the Integrity Commission does not have the "teeth". He noted that even after an expensive investigation using international consultants and forensic firms the Integrity Commission still has to refer cases to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), who then ask police to conduct their own investigation.

He said the difference between the two is that once the DPP has the file from the Anti-Corruption Commission, all he has to do is determine whether charges should be laid or not.

The Attorney General made it clear that the government will not dismantle the Integrity Commission, adding that he expects that it would work in harmony with the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Earlier in the debate Trade Minister Stephen Cadiz said corruption damages the economy. He said PNM corruption has earned the country the infamous title of "Trickydadians".

Opposition MP Paula Gopee-Scoon had her own take on the derogatory term. "When people refer to us as "Trickydadians", it is not because we are corrupt, it is because we are known to be clever", she said.