REGIONAL NEWS

 

 

TRINIDAD PRIME MINISTER CLEARED BY INTEGRITY COMMISSION

Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar has been cleared of wrongdoing by the Integrity Commission following a complaint she interfered in the appointment of the Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit.

The Integrity Commission this week dismissed the complaint made last year by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley and ruled there was no breach of the Integrity in Public Life Act, a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister said.

Rowley leveled the charge after Persad Bissessar vetoed the Public Service Commission appointment of Michelle Austin to the position of Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit.

The prime minister said her decision was based on representation by Minister of Finance Winston Dookeran who feared that the stability of the work undertaken by the unit would be adversely affected by a sudden change at the helm.

Dookeran had commended acting Director Susan Francios for her efforts in the strategic planning and management, stating that this contributed to the improved rating given to Trinidad and Tobago by the Financial Action Task Force.

The opposition leader said he would abide by the ruling.

“If the Integrity Commission after investigating the matter has found that there was no breach, then so be it,” he said, adding, “The facts don’t change but we have to accept the ruling of the commission.”

The parliamentary opposition has suggested that the state was black listed by the Financial Action Task Force, but this was rejected by the government.

The administration later said the country had been placed on the “dark grey list” and was subject to enhanced monitoring.

The statement added that Trinidad and Tobago’s position was upgraded to the “light grey” list after a review in June 2011 found it had taken action and showed progress.