THE head of government’s parliamentary business, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, has opted for penalties against defaulters to be tabled at the next sitting of the National Assembly. Parliament was postponed from May 31 to June 7; then postponed again, to June 13, 2012.
It is a very good thing that the government is attempting to have all parliamentarians declare their annual assets and all earnings. It is the hope of the government that all members will co-operate and comply with the Integrity Commission Act. In 2010, the PPP/C government had tabled a similar motion, which saw the opposition, in Robert Corbin, take the matter to court because, as he claimed, the PPP/C government did not consult with him regarding the selection of the chairman; and perhaps, some particular members of the Integrity Commission, so the government withdrew the motion.
According to the law, it is a legal obligation for all members to submit these documents or information; and it is a violation of the law, should any of these public folk refuse, and a gross indictment, punishable by law. The Members of Parliament of the PPP/C will not have a problem, submitting same.

In such cases, Section 19 of the ACT empowers both the President of Guyana; and the Integrity Commission, to list the defaulters, who are not in compliance; to publish their names in the Official Gazette, the daily media, and a copy presented to the Speaker of the National Assembly, in this case Mr. Raphael Trotman.
It should also be noted that these offences carry penalties which could include fines and even imprisonment

The penalty, as I understand it, according to the law, is $25,000 and imprisonment for between, six and twelve months, and if property was not disclosed as it should have been, the magistrate, convicting the defendant, will order the defendant to make  a full disclosure; within a set time frame.

This is one way of keeping track of those public figures who, from time to time, seem to think that they are above the law, but not so, according to the Integrity Commission Act, and the rules must be adhered to. There are laws that we, the ordinary folk, referred to as taxpayers, live by; and so should the politicians.