32 public bodies score 90% compliance with Integrity Commission

Under the Integrity Commission's compliance drive initiative, 32 public bodies have achieved 90-100 per cent compliance in their declaration of forms for income, assets and liabilities and statement of registrable interests.

Lorelly Pujadas, a member of the commission, said the initiative saw representatives of the compliance team meeting with members of the public bodies to assess how the commission could assist them in completing their forms.

“We dealt with the leadership, we dealt with the individual membership and we dealt with getting feedback as to how we can improve.

“The overall goal is to improve public trust. We want them to have trust not just in the Integrity Commission because the commission is just a means to improve the transparency and accountability of public officials at large.”

Pujadas was speaking at the commission’s anti-corruption day seminar held at the Hilton on December 6 where those public bodies were recognised and awarded for the achievement.

These bodies include: Agricultural Development Bank, Airport Authority of TT, Alutrint Ltd, Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation, Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, Estate Management and Business Development Company Ltd, Exim Bank, Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation, MIC Institute of Technology, National Helicopter Service Ltd, The National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (Niherst), National Investment Fund Holding Company Ltd, National Marine and Maintenance Services Company Ltd, National Quarries Company Ltd, Queen’s Hall, Regulated Industries Commission, Rural Development Company TT Ltd, Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA), Taurus Services Ltd, TSTT, National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), National Gas Company (NGC), The National Trust of TT, The Office of Procurement Regulations, Tourism Trinidad Ltd, T&TEC, TT Free Zones Company Ltd, TT International Financial Centre, TT Petroleum Holdings Ltd, Ytepp and the board appointed to address the distribution of state enterprises under the Finance Ministry’s investments division.

General compliance amongst bodies nationwide also increased from around 50 per cent in November 2023 to 74.14 per cent at the end of October, surpassing the commission’s goal of an increase to 65 per cent.

The commission also identified groups with a high compliance rate percentage.

The boards of state enterprises achieved 78 per cent, permanent secretaries and other chief officers achieved 77 per cent, the House of Representatives achieved 76 per cent, boards of statutory bodies achieved 73 per cent, members of municipalities achieved 70 per cent, senators 65 per cent and members of the THA achieved 60 per cent.