AND ELIZABETH GONZALES
The Integrity Commission has confirmed to Newsday that it is currently investigating a now-infamous voice recording which has gone viral on social media. In the recording, two people can be heard planning the use of Tobago House of Assembly funds in the dissemanation of "propaganda" for a political party.
A preliminary assessment is expected to be completed by Friday.
On Tuesday, Newsday reported that the Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau and the Fraud Squad of the police were also investigating the matter.
On Wednesday, in response to an e-mail sent on Tuesday, the commission told Newsday that it received a complaint about the recording on June 3.
The complaint was made pursuant to Section 32 of the Integrity in Public Life Act which says that any member of the public may file a complaint to the commission against any public official that they believe has breached the act.
The commission said, in accordance with its rules, a preliminary assessment started on June 5 "to determine jurisdiction in terms of person and subject matter. It is anticipated that this preliminary assessment will be completed by June 16.
"The next step will be submission to the commission within 14 days for its decision as to whether to pursue a full investigation pursuant to Section 33 (b) of the Integrity in Public Life Act Section 33: The Commission (b) shall upon the complaint of any member of the public, consider and enquire into any alleged breaches of the Act or any allegations of corrupt or dishonest conduct."
The commission noted that it was unable to issue an acknowledgement of its receipt of the complaint as it was submitted without an address.
[caption id="attachment_1021171" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Kelvon Morris Minority Leader, Tobago House of Assembly - David Reid[/caption]
THA Minority Leader Kelvon Morris also made the disclosure on Wednesday during a media conference at his office in Scarborough.
He said he has received a letter from a Tobago West pensioner who has since filed the complaint, making note of the one-minute-15-second voice recording.
He said the pensioner was convinced that a crime had been committed against the people of TT.
Morris called on two senior public officials in Tobago to vacate their offices “until such time that this investigation has been properly investigated and completed.”
Morris said the first response after 21 days of silence from the Chief Secretary should not have been that he has nothing to be worried about as he will break his silence on the matter in the coming days.
On Tuesday, speaking at a townhall meeting, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said: “I can also say with a very high degree of confidence that when I speak on this issue, myself and the executive will be properly exonerated.”
But Morris said: “I heard the Chief Secretary saying 21 days for crapaud and one day for schoolboy but what he forgot to tell us that it also says 21 days for thieves and one day for police.
"The police is on its way on this matter.”
