IPO Commission set to charge 30 government officials for failure to declare assets
The Dominican.net Newsdesk
Authorities in Dominica say they are in the process of charging thirty persons who hold public office for failing to declare their assets within a required time.
Chairman of the IPO Commission Julien Johnson
Word of the charges come almost two years after members of the integrity commission were sworn in following passage in Parliament of the Integrity in Public Office (IPO) Act on September 1, 2008.
The commission is chaired by former Cabinet Secretary Julian Johnson and includes includes Archbishop Kelvin Felix, former Financial Secretary Alick Lazare, business woman Patricia Inglis, Mr. Gerald Smith and former Acting Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Sir Brian Alleyne, and Mr. George Williams.
Neither the names of the individuals nor the specific charges were revealed, but it is believed that the charges came after the public servants failed to meet a March 31, 2010 deadline to declare their assets.
There have been increasing public clamor for the IPO commission to act after rumors began to circulate of local persons helping to launder drug money.
During the 2009 election campaign, charges were also leveled against some top government officials including prime minister Skerrit for possessing millions of dollars in assets. None of those charges have been substantiated and it was not immediately clear if any government ministers are included in the thirty.
The IPO Act was set up for the express purpose of “establishing probity, integrity and accountability in public life in the Commonwealth of Dominica.”
According to the Act, those in public life range from Cabinet ministers, parliamentary secretaries and special advisors or assistants to the Prime Minister and other Ministers, the Speaker of the House of Assembly and the members of the House of Assembly.
Chairpersons and managers of statutory corporations, boards and commissions and official heads of departments of government along with some senior public and police officers are also included in that list under the act.
It is not clear how the laying of charges will affect the ongoing public debate about what many feel has been a breakdown in integrity and public accountability in the country.
If the charges are confirmed, the persons will be brought before the courts and if found guilty could face a maximum penalty of $ 20,000 or jail time of up to two years.
