Dr. Keith Rowley, the prime minister, has drawn criticism for his “attack” on Dr. Rajendra Ramlogan, the head of the Integrity Commission (IC). The National Transformation Alliance (NTA) and Chaguanas West MP Dinesh Rambally released statements yesterday regarding Rowley’s digs at the Integrity Commission.
Additionally, Rajendra Ramlogan, the chairman of the IC, recently declared that he would not answer the Prime Minister. Ramlogan answered the Express’s queries on WhatsApp by saying:
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“My term as Chairman of the IC ends on January 11, 2024. According to Section 35 of the Integrity in Public Life Act, I cannot comment on any investigation. Further, I do not believe that the Office of the Chairman of the IC should ever engage in debating the opinions of persons in public life. The duty of the Commission is to be independent and impartial and engage in its deliberations without fear or favor.”
He continued, “The Commission is a constitutionally established body whose primary duty is to the people of Trinidad and Tobago. It is my opinion that the evidence proves that this Commission has done a great deal with its limited resources. Please read our 2022 Annual Report and the forthcoming 2023 Annual Report, which would provide the relevant factual basis for assessing the work of the 17th Commission during my time in office.”
After revealing in a statement that its funding had been reduced by $58 million, the Integrity Commission was forced to file a lawsuit in the High Court on December 28 to ascertain the purpose and interpretation of the pertinent sections of the Integrity in Public Life Act (IPLA).
Rowley expressed dissatisfaction with the commission’s publication and its chairman in a recent Facebook post.
The Trinidad and Tobago PM stated, “This is an interesting perspective, having regard to the number of investigations which I am personally aware have been launched by the very said Integrity Commission, including more than one about myself, and in particular, a very recent investigation which was launched on November 23rd, 2023 and concluded on December 29th, 2023 with respect to a matter which had previously been investigated and reinvestigated with no finding of a breach of the Act.”
Dr. Rowley added, “I permit myself to posit that maybe the issue is far too many ill-advised and politically motivated investigations have been embarked upon by the Integrity Commission and more circumspect investigations need to be conducted in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Act.”
Considering that the Integrity Panel is an independent entity, Rambally stated that this was a “repréhensible attack” on the commission.
“It is deeply troubling that a democratically elected leader, accountable to the citizens of our nation, would stoop to such levels in an effort to compromise the very essence of independent oversight. This relentless assault on our institutions erodes public trust and sets a dangerous precedent for the future of our democracy,” he noted.
People who respect democratic values, according to Rambally, should strongly denounce Rowley’s conduct, and he should urge Rowley to “cease these baseless attacks and allow the Integrity Commission to carry out its duties without interference”.
Gary Griffith, the head of the NTA, stated, “Rowley has overseen three investigations into the acquisition of legal firearms, seemingly as part of the ‘Get Gary’ campaign, without any discernible success”.
“It is disconcerting that such an attack stems from the fact that two separate and distinct Integrity Commissions, composed of different individuals, chose to investigate him, and he is acting as if he believes he is somehow above being investigated,” the NTA noted.
The NTA went on to state that the general public should be aware of the “subtle racial dog whistle” exposed by Rowley as he implies that Prof. Ramlogan, the chairman of the Integrity Commission, has political affinities with opposition parties to the PNM, “The Integrity Commission, acting in concert with others, is deliberately attempting to tarnish my reputation”, and that their actions are “politically motivated investigations”.
According to the NTA, the Prime Minister’s actions seriously cast doubt on the values of accountability and openness inside his government in addition to undermining the legitimacy of a crucial democratic institution.
