Former chairman of the Integrity Commission (IC) Ken Gordon yesterday criticised Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley for having no confidence in the IC, insisting his statement will undermine the institution’s effectiveness.
Gordon said while Rowley did not have the luxury to speak as a private person “as a leader of our country, his public rejection virtually condemns this important institution to national ridicule,” Gordon said yesterday in a telephone interview.
“For a Prime Minister to publicly say that he has lost confidence in the commission, what do you expect the normal person who gets a judgment against them in the Integrity Commission to say?
“He has virtually knocked the legs. It is unfortunate that the Prime Minister should openly declare a lack of confidence, in as an important institution of this sphere as the Integrity Commission,” Gordon said.
His comments came one day after Rowley addressed an anti-corruption conference hosted by the T&T Transparency Institute at Hilton Trinidad where he stated that he had no confidence in the IC but, at the same time, it was an institution that has to deal with allegations against people in public life.
In response to Rowley’s statements, chairman of the IC Justice Zainool Hosein said: “He (Rowley) is entitled to his views... he can express his views.”
Gordon said Rowley’s statements “virtually undermines any prospect of its (the commission’s) effectiveness but I must also add that the manner in which the commission has handled the resignation of its former deputy chairman Justice (Sebastian) Ventour, it leaves much to be desired and raises some serious questions.
“Perhaps, others also share that view and as he (Ventour) has made it clear, so does the Prime Minister,” he added.
In 2013, Gordon was viewed as having compromised his position as chairman of the IC after confirming that he had a meeting at his home with Rowley five days before the explosive email disclosures in Parliament.
Gordon said while the IC had “this sanctified silence... which almost frustrated its position on things,” few people understand the work of the IC.
Meanwhile, former deputy chairman of the IC Justice Sebastian Ventour said the institution “has the right to carry its reputation like Caesar’s wife... to be above reproach.
“Their operating word being integrity. I am not saying that the people who are part of the commission do not have integrity. I am saying we need to have people who are strong but we also need to have structures in place.” He said while the IC was an independent body, it had its purpose.
Ventour said the IC should focus on reducing corruption and establishing more powers.
“We need to confront corruption head-on. This country needs to be turned around with corruption and wrongdoing. We are not ready yet to deal with corruption, which is like a cancer eating away at the morality of the democracy of this country.”
Ventour said a key component of dealing with corruption was establishing whistleblower protection.
“We need to get laws to protect people who want to disclose wrongdoing in society. People are not coming forward to say what they know about corruption because they can be victimised,” he added.
Last May, Ventour tendered his resignation from the IC, saying he was “flabbergasted” with the commission’s decision to terminate its investigation into Emailgate. Before resigning, Ventour said under Gordon’s chairmanship “we had done some extensive work... recommendations for changing the commission to give it more teeth because they were referred to as a toothless tiger.” He wondered what had happened to those recommendations.
Ventour said while he was there, the IC maintained its integrity and honesty but he lost faith in the institution which led him to resign.
“I left the commission because I was not in favour of what they said,” he added.
Ventour said only President Anthony Carmona has the authority to introduce a new commission under the remit of the Constitution.
“The President would normally get the approval of both the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader when a member of the commission is being appointed. They both can approve or disapprove if they so wish but that is to the extent of their involvement,” he said.
Former chairman of the IC Dr Eric St Cyr refused comment.
Flashback
On January 27, 2011, Keith Rowley was cleared by the IC of any wrongdoing of the Landate matter.
The police investigation of the Landate issue began in August 2006. Then Integrity chairman St Cyr revealed there was no probe into Rowley. St Cyr had said the matter had ended and he knew that a letter was issued to Rowley. The matter was referred to the IC by former Prime Minister Patrick Manning.