Retired High Court judge Melville Baird is not prepared to disclose what he will bring to the table as the new chairman of the Integrity Commission.
Speaking to members of the media minutes after he received his instrument of appointment from President Anthony Carmona yesterday, Baird said he needed to get on the job first.
Asked what was his pre-conceived idea as to what he intends to bring to the commission, Baird replied: “I do, but, I won’t share it.”
In terms of confidentiality, Baird was asked how concerned he is about leaks within the commission where information would be made available to the public prematurely. He responded asking for a chance.
“Give me a chance to meet with staff…to get on the job and then I would address matters that need to be addressed,” Baird said.
“In my Bio I was dealing with top secret telegrams from the Criminal Office to the Governor General and sending back to them…If one did not have a deep sense of confidentiality, one could not do that job…it served for me as a grounding for me. I always had a deep sense of confidentiality and at this stage in my life, it is extremely deep,” Baird said.
Carmona, in his brief statement, warned Baird that his job “is not going to be easy.”
The President made mention how the last two chairmen—Justice Zainool Hosein and Ken Gordon were buffeted and treated unfairly by the public.
“But…they stood tall and they accomplished the objective…the time has come now again to give another relay runner…to hand you the baton, it is not going to be easy,” Carmona said.
The Integrity Commission is an independent constitutional body appointed by the President. It is charged with the responsibility of regulating the conduct of persons exercising public functions and preserving and promoting the integrity of public officials and institutions.