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Opposition Senator Wade Mark has claimed in Parliament that two "senior Cabinet ministers" are soon to face criminal charges arising out of an investigation conducted by the Integrity Commission.
Mark did so as he made reference to a High Court affidavit of the Integrity Commission registrar, Martin Farrell, in response to the allegations that the commission was taking too long to investigate a complaint submitted by the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sahba, regarding its application for a radio station licence, which was rejected more than two years ago.
Mark raised the matter during the Senate's debate of the Integrity in Public Life (Amendment) Bill, 2009, at the Red House, Port of Spain.
Senate Vice-President George Hadeed ruled that Mark could only say "Mr X and Mr Y" after Attorney General Bridgid Annisette-George and Government Senator Laurel Lazama both raised points of order objecting to Mark's reference to senior members of the Cabinet.
Mark said the Maha Sabha consistently complained about the matter, adding: "After protracted and labourious investigation as to whether the Code of Conduct under the Integrity in Public Life Act was violated by these, by both Mr X and Mr Y, when it awarded a radio licence to its financier and supporter, Louis Lee Sing's Citadel Ltd, and discriminated against the Maha Sabha, whose application was approved and waiting for five years."
Mark claimed all that is required is for the Integrity Commission to refer the matter to the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Carla Brown-Antoine, as he alleged this was why the Government was bringing what he called illegal and unconstitutional amendments to the Integrity in Public Life Act, 2000 to the Parliament "to stifle complaints to the Integrity Commission.
