NDP to finally establish Register of Interest Committee
The Government Registrar of Interest, Mrs Victoreen Romney-Varlack, has complained for years that without this committee nothing would be done and that she has gotten little or no cooperation from Legislators in registering and declaring their interests.
The Act calls for this Select House of Assembly (HoA) Committee in order to set up the guidelines to comply with the Act.
At the upcoming April 18, 2016 Eighth Sitting of the First Session of the Third HoA, Premier and Leader of Government Business Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith will move a Motion to establish the long overdue Committee.
The Committee is to be chaired by Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4), the Minister for Communications and Works.
The other members of the Committee are Hons Archibald C. Christian, Jr Minister for Tourism; Marlon A. Penn (R8), Jr Minister for Trade and Investment Promotion; Alvera Maduro-Caines (R6); Julian Fraser RA (R3), Leader of the Opposition; and Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1).
What is the Register of Interests Office?
The Office of the Register of Interests' main function is governed by the Constitution and the Register of Interests Act 2006.
It requires, among others, for Members of the HoA, the Speaker and the Attorney General to make declarations of their interests. The Law requires that this should take place upon the Member of the HoA taking office and secondly, on the anniversary of the sequential date in office.
Register does not exist! What are they hiding?
It was this year during the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) deliberation on the 2016 Budget, Mrs Romney-Varlack told the SFC that “such a Register does not exist even after 2008 (ten years later) in accordance with the Register of Interest Act.”
Legislators seem to be determined not to declare their interests, as it was noted that a Standing Select Committee comprising of Members of the HoA should be appointed to approve the format of the Register.
However, according to the SFC Report, since the Committee was not appointed, the Register has not been formatted.
Finally, the HoA is taking the first positive step in this and it’s left to be seen, once the Committee is formed, if they will meet and carry out their functions.
The ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) government has been promising this matter would be addressed from since they were first elected to office in 2003-2007, however, to date there has been no action.
.png)
Follow Us On
25 Responses to “NDP to finally establish Register of Interest Committee”
Boh Vino, you came back after a short rest hitting hard. Lord things sweet this weekend sah. My belly a roll. You bringing all these public figures out their closets. What's fahie saying again...something about night catching up to daylight? This a good move by big Mac to get ahead of this one. Things to talk. LOL
Multi-Million Dollar Man = Big Mac, got it!!!
Modest means for the President and his wife of the United States, if only some of us can learn to do the same. And they were still able to give a good portion to Charity. View link:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/obamas-paid-dollar81472-in-taxes-returns-show/ar-BBrOwIs?ocid=ansmsnnews11