Opposition Reacts to Lower House Speaker Ruling to Not Tailor the Annual IC Report

House Speaker Juliet Holness's decision to not table the latest Integrity Commission's annual report in Parliament this week has again drawn the anger of Opposition Leader Mark Golding. 

 

The Integrity Commission advised the public that it submitted its 8th annual report to Parliament on Monday, June 29th. 

 

During Tuesday's sitting of the House of Representatives, House Speaker Juliet Holnesses ruled that the Commission's annual reports would not be tabled during that sitting of the lower house.

 

She said,  “Please read the ruling of the speaker as it relates to tabling of all documents that come to the parliament. They have to be received by the speaker first. I received that document only yesterday. So it's not just when it arrives at the parliament but also when it is received. I received it yesterday. During yesterday's sitting and in the ruling, I indicated as much, I am required to open and read any document that is submitted to the parliament, not to just table what I've not seen.”

 

When contacted by CVM news on Thursday, the house speaker sought to explain that the oversight committee has 30 days to review the documents and report to parliament. 

 

“There is, as in keeping with the ruling, and as in keeping with the Integrity Commission Act, tabling the report the following week from IC allows tabling in a reasonable time. Which is what the ruling says.” says Juliet Holness. 

 

But opposition leader and PNP President, Mark Golding, raised concerns about the ruling. Mr Golding explained that the Integrity Commission Act requires that the Commission's reports be tabled as soon as possible after they are received by Parliament. 

 

He added that there is significant public interest in the report.

 

Golding said, “The annual report came here. The cover letter was published as is their practice so that everybody knows that something has come and we were expecting to see it tabled today and it wasn't. And the Leader of Opposition Business wanted to ask why in announcements it wasn't table in light of that fact. He was not allowed, even, to ask the question. And we object both strongly to the way in which the proceedings of this house are being conducted because they have been conducted in what appears to be a very partisan way, a manipulative, way when it comes to sensitive political issues.” 

 

The opposition leader also said that the failure to allow the leader of Opposition business, Philip Powwell, to speak on the issue of the Integrity Commission's annual report not being tabled was most improper and does not have the support of opposition MPs.

 

“Because there's a strong public interest in the work of the Integrity Commission being facilitated to reduce corruption and other wrongs against the good governance of the country being perpetrated. And we on this side are going to always be assiduous about that. And when we attempt to do so and we're shut down, it's not a good look. It appears to be an attempt to use up the parliament in a way which is inimical to the interests of good governance and democracy.”