THE revised Code of Conduct merely expands on the existing body of rules to guide public officials in the execution of their duties, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo said while making it clear that it does not include new disciplinary powers.
The Prime Minister’s statement comes amid claims by the Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, that Government is pushing to have the Integrity Commission Act amended to have additional powers vested in the President.
During a recent press conference, Jagdeo said: “The Prime Minister wrote me seeking to have the Integrity Commission Law amended with the purpose of not strengthening the accountability provisions and the declarations of assets – so you can track politicians and public officials’ assets – but to undermine it by including now, giving the President Executive authority to go after people; to discipline people. So he now has authority under the Integrity Commission Act that he never had.”
The Integrity Commission Act makes provision for the Code of Conduct for ministers of Government, members of the National Assembly and public office holders.
The revised Code of Conduct was sent to the Opposition Leader for review but was rubbished by him, who described it as “crap.”
“This typical, vintage, back ball vulgarity, by Jagdeo, who was quoted in the media, is showing disrespect for the draft that my office has sent to him for comments,” the prime minister said in response.

It was made clear that Part IV of the current Integrity Commission Act which makes provision for a Code of Conduct remains intact.
In addition to penalties in the Act, persons in public life if charged for violating the code could be prosecuted under existing criminal laws and if found guilty would be fined and or jailed.
The law, as is, sets out how complaints ought to be made against persons in public life and for the Integrity Commission to investigate the merit of the complaints. The Commission could refer the matter to the Director of Pubic Prosecution (DPP) for criminal prosecution of any breach committed by a person holding public office, among them being the President, Leader of the Opposition, ministers and members of parliament.

In addition, the Integrity Commission could refer its findings to anybody that has disciplinary control over the person identified in the report.
The revised code is intended to place responsibility on the President to ensure his ministers observe the code and for the minister of state as head of department of Public Service to do the same as regards other persons holding public office.
They have no disciplinary powers to sanction or dismiss anyone, under this article, the prime minister insisted.
The revised draft code of conduct has undergone extensive review and has been previously made available to various stakeholders, including civil society and the Guyana Bar Association for their review and input.
The document was disseminated ahead of being tabled in the National Assembly so as to set a higher standard of conduct for senior public officials. It is expected that added to the list of public officials would be those attached to the Public Procurement Commission and the anti-money laundering units.
The new code came out of the work of a committee headed by former Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman and comprising Simobe Morris-Ramlall, Dela Britton, Tamara Khan, Sasha Rajkumar, Carlyle Goring and Darlene Christian.