Rowley failed to file declaration with Integrity Commission

Keith Rowley did not file a Declaration of Income, Assets and Liabilities and a Statement of Registrable Interests with the Integrity Commission for the year ended December 31, 2011 as required by the Integrity in Public Life Act.

The opposition leader is among 342 people who did not file their documents with the commission. Other top opposition members who are on a list published by the Integrity Commission include Amery Browne, Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, Fitzgerald Hinds and Mariano Browne.

On the Government side the list include Verna St Rose Greaves, Vernella Alleyne-Toppin, Patrick Watson and Collin Partap. Several permanent secretaries also failed to file their declarations.

The Integrity Commission's website notes that if a person in public life "fails to file a declaration in accordance with Section 11 of the Act, or without reasonable cause, fails to furnish particulars in accordance with section 13 or fails to file the statement of registrable interests under section 14, the Commission is empowered to publish this failure in the Gazette and at least one daily newspaper in Trinidad and Tobago."

It adds, "The Commission may, at anytime after the publication, make an ex parte application to the High Court for an order directing the person to comply with the Act and the Court may, in addition to making such an order, impose such conditions as it thinks fit.

"A person who fails to comply with the directions of the Court commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000)".