Campaign finance legislation being finalised

MINISTER in the Ministry of the Attorney General Fitzgerald Hinds says campaign finance legislation was being finalised.

He was delivering a statement in the House yesterday on the Eighth Summit of Americas held from April 13-14 in Lima, Peru.

Hinds said he and Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Dennis Moses represented TT at the Summit and the main outcome was the “Lima Commitment on Democratic Governance Against Corruption.”

He reported because of these deliberations Cabinet required Moses to submit specific information on the Lima Commitment relating to whistle-blower legislation and financing of political organisations and campaign financing legislation. He said the Whistleblower Protection Bill 2018 is on the order paper of the House for debate and the financing of political organisations and campaign financing legislation is being finalised. Hinds also reported, in respect to prevention of corruption in public works and public procurement and contracting, the procurement regulator has been appointed, his work has begun and the procurement board was also appointed on January 12, 2018.

He also provided updates on legislation related to legal cooperation, organised crime, money laundering and asset recovery.

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar asked when procurement legislation was to be proclaimed. Hinds began to answer but gave way to Finance Minister Colm Imbert who said he was the minister responsible for public procurement act.

“Stay quiet,” Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal told Hinds.

Imbert pointed out in the budget statement of 2019 it was said, barring unforeseen circumstances, the act could be fully operational by the end of the first quarter of 2019. “That timetable remains intact.”