President Jagdeo has said he intends to move forward with the naming of members of the Integrity Commission this week.

A release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) yesterday reported the President as saying that much information had been shared with the leader of the opposition, including the names of the three nominees for the commission and there was no requirement which stated that the consultation must await the Leader of the Opposition.

GINA went on to say that Dr James Rose, who had been nominated for the position of chairman of the commission, had approached President Jagdeo asking that his name be removed since anyone in government service was prohibited from holding such a position.

“We still have to find a replacement there but we plan next week [this week] to go ahead with appointment of the three Integrity Commission members then we’ll continue consultation on the chairman,” Jagdeo was quoted as saying.

Earlier this year, the head of state had issued an order for officials in public office beginning with Members of Parliament to submit their declarations of assets and liabilities to the Integrity Commission, which is a requirement under the Integrity Commission Act.

The opposition had however criticised the constitutionality of the commission and had called for it to be reconstituted. President Jagdeo had subsequently announced that consultations would start towards resuscitating the commission.

Expressing the need to continue consultations on the local government reform process, President Bharrat Jagdeo has announced that consultations with the main opposition party, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) must go on despite Corbin’s absence.

Noting that Robert Corbin, Leader of the Opposition had recently been admitted to the hospital after complaining of chest pains and had to be flown overseas for further medical attention, Jagdeo said Dr Roger Luncheon had written PNC member Oscar Clarke about the need for a continuation.

The release quoted Jagdeo as saying, “I don’t think we can await the leader of the opposition. When I’m out of the country, the Prime Minister carries on with the consultation. The last time I was out of the country he led consultations with Mr Corbin on the Integrity Commission.”