Chairman of the Integrity in Public Office Commission Julian Johnson, on the invitation of CEO of the Dominican Association of Industry and Commerce (DAIC), met with DAIC members, yesterday.
He revealed that the Commission has only the authority to operate within the constraints of the Act that created it and has not replaced any other investigative body and that it does not have powers of discretion or of prosecution.
The meeting was aimed at fostering a dialogue between the two entities centered on “The Work of the IPO Commission during Its First Term of Operation: Achievements and Constraints”, the first term being September 2, 2008 to September 1, 2011.
“Under the Act of 2003 the Integrity Commission is charged under section 9 of the Act with the following duties: a. To receive, examine, and retain all declarations filed with it; b. To make such inquiries as it considers necessary in order to verify or determine the accuracy of the declarations; c. To inquire into any allegations of bribery or act of corruption; d. To receive and investigate complaints regarding non-compliance with or breach of the Act and e. To perform such other functions it is required under the Act,” Johnson said.
He continued, “The Integrity Commission has not supplanted the Police Force, Parliamentary Commissioner, the Accounting Officer and/or the Public Accounts Committee, Public/Police Service Commissions, Director of Public Prosecutions and the Director of Audit.”
The Commission further has no powers of discretion and any person in public life acting outside the Act in terms of failure to file by the required date or any other infringement are subject to the consequences and the IPO is bound by law to report it to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
He said, “If we are not satisfied with a declaration and if we have made requests for additional information and further particulars and these have not been supplied then we are duty bound by the Act to publish that fact in the Official Gazette and send a report to the Director of Public Prosecutions for further action. We have no discretion. It is entirely a matter for the discretion of the DPP to decide what the next step should be. We are bound to make the report but he must us his own independent, constitutional jurisdiction to determine what he does with that report. The IPO prosecutes nobody.”
Johnson said that the Commission is required to submit an Annual Report to Parliament.
In the first term of the IPO there have been four complaints made in writing to the Commission:
[1] Lennox Linton – against Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit
[2] Citizens Forum (Arthie Martin, Angelo Alleyne Mckenzie and Lennox Linton) – against Ambrose George
[3] Lennox Linton – against Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit
[4] Lennox Linton – against Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit
All seven member of the Commission at the end of the First Term were reappointed.
always thought this was an exercise in futility. the constitution makes provision for an ombudsman , and a public accounts committee together those two would have been enough and minimal costs . this is why Spags John should start performing his functions as leader of the opposition ,since he is the one to head the public accounts committee.
Ugly, Ugly, Ugly, in every sense of the word.
Here the Johnson man or the chairman sorry;
He said, “If we are not satisfied with a declaration and if we have made requests for additional information and further particulars and these have not been supplied then we are duty bound by the Act to publish that fact in the Official Gazette and send a report to the Director of Public Prosecutions for further action.
Then is allu that recommend a case be filed against the speaker and is alu that did not provide the DPP with the necessary support to prove the case – and is all yu that allow the young lawyer to go to court unprepared thats why the speaker could talk down to you all with such shameless venom.
Thanks Julian for telling us what we already know. While young people cannot find gainful employment some useless people are sucking the our treasury doing nothing.the I.p.o is a farce, parry,nanthan, Maynard spiritual advisor –all a scam. Pierre Charles got rid of all those unnecessary burden and they were bright back to further street the tax payers.
Only Dominicans can rescue Dominica. In the song of gaylords- pray for the black man.
Is Angelo’s surname McKenzie? Just asking. If not then put the name to the McKenzie surname
Close it Down!
Johnson refund the Dominican nation every cent u earned since u started the IPO, u are getting paid for no work, where is your conscience?
This is just one of them, there are many more bodies operating like that in Dominica.
Huge waste of tax payers money, I think if you ask me, this is just pure malice to Dominican tax payers. As we continue to finance these entities, businesses are closing down because they can’t afford to pay VAT.
Sick sick sick and I am hoping that any new government will look seriously at closing down quite a bit of these entities. IPO should be strengthened, but there are others that just need to go.
But hey. Was it not the opposition and all those Forum people who put pressure on governmenmt to set up the IPO? Did they not light candles on Newtown Savannah in protest to push for the IPO?
And now you have it I see here on this board you all now dont want it! Make up your minds people!
I for one was against it being set up because there are enough laws on the books already to prosecute corrupt people…its just that when push comes to shove no one takes a case against people they think are perpatrators.
I agree it is a waste of money. I am appalled at the cost of having it. That is why the government delayed in establishing it. But you all were baying like dogs for it. And would have continued all now so accusing government. So OK they gave it to you. Now you all dont want it. Elas!
SO EFFECTIVELY – IT IS A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY
so what is the use of its existence, pl follow the trinidad model where the commission on several occassion had members of parliament on both sides of the house were taken before a court of law, seems this IPO in dominica is a waste of tax payers money, thought this was a means for public officials to be made accountable
Did Lennox have a relationship with Roosevelt Skerrit. The IPO has to ask Lennox this question. Is this a case of a jilted Lover?
1] Lennox Linton – against Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit
[2] Citizens Forum (Arthie Martin, Angelo Alleyne Mckenzie and Lennox Linton) – against Ambrose George
[3] Lennox Linton – against Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit
[4] Lennox Linton – against Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit
Its becoming laughable
What I need you to do, is refute any claim made by Lennox Linton in all 3 of the reports. Highlight the sections which were not factual and show us where Mr. Linton is right.
You see, the problem with you people is that yall have no brains. This admission by the IPO commission has vindicated Lennox Linton. The members know the truth, but they can do absolutely NOTHING about anything presented to them. It was designed that way. I call it a Smoke Screen piece of legislation…on the next level!
You Jealous?
petty contribution
So long I am calling for the abolishment of this sham organization. Al of all you should pay for you guys have done to Dominica. Shame! Shame! Shame on you disgraceful called academics f Dominica. You guys should be tied together and paraded around the whole frigging country with the scarlet letter IMPRINTED on all you forehead. Shame!
IDIOT!!!!
What then is the point of having such a body operating at great expense to the public purse. An expensive paper tiger! May God help us should we ever get an executive President enjoying constitutional immunity from prosecution. I confess i’m not normally a religious person but I have started praying!
Jobs for the so called elites who has the testicular fortitude to refuse sending files to the DPP for prosecution even when the evidence contained therein is glaring.