PM cleared by Integrity Commission

Port-of-Spain: Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar has been cleared by the Integrity Commission of any wrong doing in a complaint alleging interference by her in the appointment of the director of the Financial Intelligence Unit.

The complaint had been made to the Integrity Commission by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley on October 31st last year.

The prime minister had told the Parliament that she exercised her constitutional veto of Michelle Austin, saying her decision was based on representation, made by Finance Minister Winston Dookeran who feared that the stability of the work undertaken by the Financial Intelligence Unit would be adversely affected by any sudden change at the helm.  

Dookeran felt the work of the acting director Susan Francios in the strategic planning and management of the Financial Intelligence Unit, would have contributed to the improved rating given to Trinidad and Tobago by the Financial Action Task Force.

The Opposition had maintained that Trinidad and Tobago was black listed by the Financial Action Task Force which later proved to be untrue and that the country was not in danger of being sanctioned.

On Monday the Integrity Commission ruled that there was no breach of the Integrity in Public Life Act Chapter 22:01, and dismissed the complaint alleging interference in the appointment of Michelle Austin to the position of director of the Financial Intelligence Unit.