MEMBERS of the Integrity Commission on Wednesday briefed councillors of the Region Two Regional Democratic Council (RDC) on their legal obligations regarding the declaration of income, assets and liabilities.
The statutory meeting was temporarily suspended to allow representatives of the Commission to deliver a PowerPoint presentation outlining the requirements of the Integrity Commission Act and the responsibilities of persons holding public office.
Speaking during the session, Chief Executive Officer of the Integrity Commission, Dr Amanda Jaisingh, warned that public officials who fail to submit their declarations as required by law could face penalties, including fines and imprisonment.
She explained that the Integrity Commission’s mandate is to strengthen public confidence in persons serving in public life by promoting transparency, accountability and integrity in the execution of their duties.
Dr Jaisingh said the Commission works to ensure full compliance with the submission of declarations by specified public officers listed under Schedule I of the Act. She noted that the Commission also seeks to ensure that public officials understand their statutory obligations and comply with the legal requirements governing declarations. She explained that all information provided to the Commission is treated as confidential.
She further stated that the Commission was established to ensure that persons in public life maintain the highest standards of integrity while performing their official functions, thereby improving the overall standards of good governance, transparency and accountability in Guyana.
The presentation also covered the Code of Conduct for public officials, the procedures for lodging complaints, and the process for investigating alleged breaches of the Act.
Councillors were reminded that persons in public life must avoid engaging in bribery, discrimination, accepting inappropriate gifts, conflicts of interest, misuse of official influence, improper handling of classified or proprietary information, misuse of public property, sexual misconduct, and the use of personal influence for private gain.
At the conclusion of the session, Regional Democratic Council councillors were encouraged to complete and submit their declaration forms for the reporting period covering 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, in accordance with the requirements of the Integrity Commission Act.
Regional Vice-Chairman Humace Oodit thanked the Commission for extending the outreach to Region Two. He urged councillors to complete and submit their declaration forms early, noting that the declarations cover a 12-month reporting period. He also explained that newly appointed councillors who have already submitted their declarations are not required to resubmit them, while encouraging all councillors to ensure they remain compliant with the Commission’s requirements.
