The promised code of conduct for ministers of government is likely to be delayed even longer as government is now examining its incorporation in the Integrity Commission Act.
“We are looking at how to merge the code of conduct with the integrity legislation so you don’t have different standards that the integrity legislation would demand X requirement of someone who holds public office and the code of conduct is setting either a higher or lower standard,” Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said on Monday when asked by Stabroek News.
“Some persons had said publicly that they would like the code [to] be placed in Parliament as an act to legislate the conduct. I am saying if you have the integrity legislation, which deals with conduct of people in public life, then you may possibly think you don’t need two but one but expand the requirements for good public conduct,” Nagamootoo added.
He said because of the lack of response from the public on recommendations for the draft code of conduct for ministers of government, the decision was made to re-advertise for the submission of comments. He said that models from the Caribbean would also be looked at.
Then Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman had explained that in completing the code of conduct, government was also looking at several models, including from the United Kingdom and Canada, where ministers and parliamentarians found themselves in difficulty with spending. He added that models in other Commonwealth countries will also be looked at.
“The code of conduct will go through an exercise of an advertisement for further submissions. We have received only one submission, in terms of contribution and that is from the Guyana Bar Association, although we had put out an article from GINA or I think also the Department of Public Information that we are open for submissions. We haven’t received any response as yet,” Nagamootoo noted.
“So, I have asked that it be advertised and a timeframe be set for submissions to be made and in the meantime we are also trying to solicit best practices, in relation to other countries, starting from the Caribbean. I have asked for copies of integrity legislation of Trinidad,” he added.
An advertisement was published in Tuesday’s edition of the Stabroek News calling on the public to submit comments on the draft code.
The advertisement states that submissions must be made between April 12 and April 25, 2016 and should be addressed to the Office of the Integrity Commission, 94 Carmichael Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown. Submissions can also be emailed to submissions.oic1@yahoo.co.uk.
The code of conduct was promised by the coalition government, which had committed to get it done within the first 100 days in office.
It was promised that the code would be established for parliamentarians, ministers and others in public office to abide by and this would include mechanisms for demitting office due to violations.
