In a significant push for governmental transparency, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) parliamentary leader Dr. Terrence Campbell has demanded urgent amendments to Guyana’s Integrity Commission Act. Speaking over the weekend, Campbell advocated for legislative reforms that would mandate the public disclosure of summarized asset declarations from elected officials and other public servants.
Campbell proposed that Guyana emulate Jamaica’s model, where summaries of asset declarations from the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader are routinely published in the Official Gazette. This approach would extend scrutiny beyond the Integrity Commission, police, and government ministers to include media outlets and civil society organizations, creating a multi-layered accountability system.
The APNU leader’s recommendations emerge amidst growing controversy surrounding asset declarations of several government figures. Opposition party We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) recently raised questions about properties owned by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, Tourism Minister Susan Rodrigues, and former Central Housing and Planning Authority CEO Sherwyn Greaves. All three officials have categorically denied any wrongdoing.
Campbell criticized the current Integrity Commission as ‘toothless,’ contrasting it with what he described as the more proactive Ethnic Relations Commission. He expressed disappointment that the Commission remained silent on whether it would investigate the circulating allegations, suggesting it should have immediately assured the public of its intent to examine the claims thoroughly.
The existing legislation imposes severe penalties for unauthorized disclosure of declaration information, with violators facing fines of GY$25,000 and up to two months imprisonment. Meanwhile, public officials who fail to submit their declarations risk even stiffer penalties: fines of GY$25,000 and imprisonment ranging from six months to one year, plus additional daily fines of GY$10,000 for continued non-compliance.
This political confrontation occurs against a backdrop of mutual accusations between major parties. The ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) has frequently accused APNU parliamentarians of neglecting their declaration obligations, while Campbell alleges the PPPC has ‘captured’ constitutional agencies through strategic appointments of top officials.