Integrity Commission calls on public officials for financial disclosure

Johnson

The country’s Integrity Commission has served notice to public officers, parliamentarians and others who fall under that body’s scope that they have just over two months to make the annual financial disclosure to the Commission.

The Integrity in Public Office Commission, as it is officially known, has in a release reminded those concerned that  “all persons in public office are required to file their financial disclosure no later than March 31”.

It says  “persons in public life:- including all members of the House of Assembly, Ministers of Government, Chairmen and Managers of public institutions and Permanent Secretaries and other senior public officers – must file their declarations for the income year ended December 31, 2011 no later than March 31, 2012”.

According to the commission, Section 22 of the Act concerned provides that failure to file with the Commission as prescribed shall be noted in the Official Gazette, and sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

It cites the Integrity in Public Office Act, 2003, of the Laws of the Commonwealth of Dominica which states that “a person holding any office or position set out in Part I of the First Schedule to [the] Act…” or “persons acting continuously for a period of not less than six months in any office set out in Part II of the First Schedule to [the] Act… shall file a declaration with the Commission setting out:-  (a)his office or offices; (b) his income, assets and liabilities; (c)the assets of his wife, children or relative acquired through or traceable to his income; and (d) gifts made by him in value exceeding one thousand dollars.”

The Integrity act and commission were introduced as part of efforts to give effect to transparency in government.

Former Cabinet Secretary Julian Johnson when he took up the post of Chairman of the Commission in 2008, explained that the “Parliament of Dominica by enacting the Integrity in Public Office Act 2003, deemed it necessary to subject a class of persons (all state functionaries) to a special regime of disclosure of their financial affairs and to a detailed Code of Conduct. This was done for the express purpose of establishing probity, integrity and accountability in public life in the Commonwealth of Dominica”.

Johnson, a lawyer by profession, also gave assurances that “the Integrity Commission, under my Chairmanship and leadership, will approach its important statutory functions with the highest level of professionalism and diligence; with robust independence, impartiality and fairness – without fear or favour”.

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33 Comments

  1. Lance Bokit
    February 1, 2012

    Stupes. Empty vessels make the most noise.

  2. DISAPPOINTED
    January 29, 2012

    financial disclosure for one set.

  3. Indept news
    January 29, 2012

    do like De J/can use to do show the Ip # and attach your photo too.yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy11!!!

  4. Indept news
    January 29, 2012

    Johnson, a lawyer by profession, also 9one time mamo’s boomboomfly after giving up his black power skin)gave assurances that “the Integrity Commission, under my Chairmanship and leadership, will approach its important statutory functions with the highest level of professionalism and diligence; with robust independence, impartiality and fairness – without fear or favour”.

  5. Perusing the news
    January 29, 2012

    Modifier are you ugly too you keep deleting lol.

  6. Sout' Rebel
    January 29, 2012

    Empty promises..empty words from the toothless
    IPO

  7. Just Saying
    January 29, 2012

    They are all paid off. Disclosure of what? good luck.

  8. ....................
    January 28, 2012

    Another failed institution in this failed state.
    Stuppessssssssssssssssssssssssssss!

  9. WIKILEAK
    January 28, 2012

    Since everything is upside down why not put Krazy T on the integrity commission. That is where the assault disease will be even more vissible

  10. January 28, 2012

    Dominicans always want to hear corruption and never in support when the country’s integrity is up to par. Dominicans enjoy melee and negativity.

    We always put our selves in the position of being victims in a harmless society. You need to stop it and read all details of the organisation before your talk.

    • 1979's HOPE renewed
      January 30, 2012

      go collect your cheque and keep quiet.

  11. REVOLUTION NOW
    January 28, 2012

    :twisted: :mrgreen: How can thieves guard thieves?They protect them instead!

  12. Free Thinker
    January 27, 2012

    Frankly, this commission is TOOTHLESS andhas lost all confidence of the public. It has been crafted so that the powers that be could escape THOROUGH scrutiny …….transparency seems to be absent.

    When the Commission has real teeth and starts acting in the interest of the public, it will be regarded……until then, it remains a WHITE ELEPHANT!!

    • ROSEAU VALLEY
      January 28, 2012

      I am support the spirit of the Integrity in Public Office Act, 2003 and the work of the Commission. This is of paramount importance to our development and maturity as a nation if we are to demand and hold public officials to a high standard of integrity, transparency, professionalism and accountability in conducting public business. We the people need to exercise patience with the Commission in the conduct of its difficult but important work. Let’s not seek to unnecessarily disparage and malign all our national institutions simply because we don’t agree with certain actions or decisions.

      Normally, results from such a commission are seen in the course of time. They are not instantaneous and we will not always agree with the findings of the Commission. The Commission acts with meticulous care and diligence as it painstakingly accumulates and analyzes sensitive personal information from various sources.

      This is only a Notice required by law. Public officials subject to the Act should take heed and dutifully comply. However, the Commission, the DPP and the Courts must follow up swiftly in taking the necessary action mandated by law to enforce the penalties and sanctions provided for under the act if the people are to be convinced of the value of the Commission.

      Hopefully, the Commission will not allow itself to be manipulated by political considerations or influential legal personalities/political advocates when it has to use its legislative teeth to bite or to recommend action for dealing with wrongdoing if the information before it indicates that it must bite.

      • Free Thinker
        January 28, 2012

        While I agree with your comment, I still think that the pulse of the Commission (IPO) is not felt except when they send out these notifications for the declaration assets. I know the importance of having such a commission as we have seen in Trinidad and Tobago, where even the former PM Panday was not spared. Could such a thing happen here?

        While the IPO has to be meticulous in carrying out its duties, the length of time taken to deal with matters is too long, and I believe it has been somewhat handicapped by the restrictions within which it has to work, thus rendering it toothless.

        The public would like to see the IPO function as it should and be free from political interference. Based on what is becoming common place in Dominica, it would be unwise to hold my breath waiting!

  13. Morihei Ueshiba
    January 27, 2012

    :oops: Disband the IPO it is not working, .

  14. Mad as Hell
    January 27, 2012

    Mr. Johnson sir, you to are accountable to the Dominican citizens.. Could you please tell us who are the people that the IPO have not signed onto the disclosures of 2 years ago and what are penalties and of your institution is going to ensure them.. We are so sick and tired of this ineptness in Dominica.. WE the people DEMAND that you do your jobs or resign amass! D.N.O. please this message is important..

  15. 1979's HOPE renewed
    January 27, 2012

    you see that word “IN VES TI GATE” the definition of that word is excluded from alll dictionaries imported into Dominica, A man went missing at sea, coast guard found the boat and what did they do?????? THEY SANK IT! smfh… maybe parry is right….we lack the basic skills and COMMON SENSE capacity to reach any VALID conclusion about anything here in a FOOLS PARADISE.

  16. ROSEAU VALLEY
    January 27, 2012

    I am support the spirit of the Integrity in Public Office Act, 2003 and the work of the Commission. This is of paramount importance to our development and maturity as a nation if we are to demand and hold public officials to a high standard of integrity, transparency, professionalism and accountability in conducting public business. We the people need to exercise patience with the Commission in the conduct of its difficult but important work. Let’s not seek to unnecessarily disparage and malign all our national institutions simply because we don’t agree with certain actions or decisions.

    Normally, results from such a commission are seen in the course of time. They are not instantaneous and we will not always agree with the findings of the Commission. The Commission acts with meticulous care and diligence as it painstakingly accumulates and analyzes sensitive personal information from various sources.

    This is only a Notice required by law. Public officials subject to the Act should take heed and dutifully comply. However, the Commission, the DPP and the Courts must follow up swiftly in taking the necessary action mandated by law to enforce the penalties and sanctions provided for under the act if the people are to be convinced of the value of the Commission.

    Hopefully, the Commission will not allow itself to be manipulated by political considerations or influential legal personalities/political advocates when it has to use its legislative teeth to bite or to recommend action for dealing with wrongdoing if the information before it indicates that it must bite.

  17. Why
    January 27, 2012

    Does Dominica have any sort of Institutions.

    what is he saying…what a shame..

    Toothless for sure!

    • LaPte
      January 28, 2012

      Look up the word institution……yes Dominica has institutions….

  18. WIKILEAK
    January 27, 2012

    I hope they taking note of the year after year false declaration because when those lying and thieving politicians , advisors, ambassadors and are caught they shall be punished for every false declaration. They will be also punished for tax evasion too.

    You Running and You Running and you running away
    But you cyan run away from your self ( the dishonest ones)

    That song and warning is for the crooked lawyers and senior counsels

    Guiltiness rest pon their conscience oh yeh

    • 1979's HOPE renewed
      January 27, 2012

      remember to feel guilty you must first have a conscience….. and they obviously don’t…. it’s all business as usual to them. welcome to the New World Order.

    • WIKILEAKS
      January 28, 2012

      Be a man

  19. Anonymous
    January 27, 2012

    STUPES ALL U ARE A WASTE OF TIME!!!

    PERSONS IN PUBLIC LIFE HAVE ALL KINDS OF PROPERTY THAT THEIR SALARY CANNOT AFFORD AND WHAT HAVE YOU ALL DONE?

    • Correction
      January 27, 2012

      You seems to have all the evidence needed to make a conviction why not bring it to the IPO?

      You must think for yourself and not repeat things you cannot defend, their are persons who are bent on creating conspiracies becacuse that’s their livelihood, so my frien BE CAREFUL when you repeat things!!!!

  20. tiny
    January 27, 2012

    ok i see a loophole here…it did not specifically state assets owned overseas :wink:

  21. Lougaoo Mem
    January 27, 2012

    Hey, hey, hey! We are still awaiting on the full disclosures of property and overseas savings accounts owned by the real Kingpins, who have been dodging the system through lies and deception. Go get them, and bring them to justice NOW!

    • 1979's HOPE renewed
      January 27, 2012

      IN VES TI GATE…..you and me have lonnnnggg to wait……our children might have to continue waiting for our authorities to learn how to conduct proper IN VES TI GATIONS.

  22. 1979's HOPE renewed
    January 27, 2012

    HAHAHAHAH we all know that there all I’s will be dotted and T’s Crossed. regardless of whether or not there is blatant discrepancies there will NEVER be any findings….this is just a fact of life in the Commonwealth of Dominica….. I have very little faith in our institutions….especially those…did you listen to the responses to concerns by the bureau of standards on such a critical issue as radioactive contamination of vehicles from japan??? all I did was shake my head and laugh…..checks and balances???? YEAH RIGHT!!!!!!!!

    • 1979's HOPE renewed
      January 27, 2012

      According to the commission, Section 22 of the Act concerned provides that failure to file with the Commission as prescribed shall be noted in the Official Gazette, and a sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

      “the same DPP who dropped charges against the child killer, forgoing all DUE PROCESS???”

      smh and laugh again!

  23. Lougaoo Mem
    January 27, 2012

    Are you kidding me? We are still awaiting on full disclosure of the real Kingpins who continue to dodge the system. If it is good for the goose, certainly, it’s good for the gander. You very well know the guilty ones. Go figure!

  24. Waiti girl
    January 27, 2012

    Yeah right!! But who will guard the dogs?

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