National Joint Action Committee, NJAC

National Joint Action Committee

#40 Duke Street, Port-of-Spain Tel: 623-5470; 478-8799

e-mail: njacc@tstt.net.tt

MEDIA RELEASE

The National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) is extremely concerned with the continuing fiasco regarding appointments to the newly constituted Integrity Commission.

NJAC has observed with alarm the circumstances surrounding the resignation of former Justice of Appeal, Mr. Zainool Hosein, who within one day after his appointment, made certain allegations regarding promises to him made by President, Professor George Maxwell Richards.

Following this came the resignation of the Deputy Chairman Mr. Jeffrey McFarlane, Executive Director of the National Insurance Board; and today, Thursday, there is the revelation of plagiarism with regard to newspaper articles published by the newly appointed Chairman, Father Henry Charles.

From NJAC’s point of view what this means is that in terms of integrity not only do each of the individuals represent very significant aspects of national life ; the Presidency, the Judiciary, the State Enterprise Sector and the Church, but prior to now, each individual has enjoyed the highest regard of the population.

NJAC recognises that by the nature of its mandate, the Integrity Commission, its members, its deliberations and its actions should be invested with an aura of absolute commitment to the highest standards of the conduct of public affairs.

As such, the National Joint Action Committee requests that the President, Professor George Maxwell Richards, should be contacted and asked to return to office in order to resolve all issues surrounding the newly appointed Integrity Commission.

NJAC states that to do otherwise would be to leave the nation bordering on a national disaster involving important institutions and leading citizens of this country. Such a disaster will further add to the loss of confidence that the nation is now facing, as we seek to deal with a number of pressing issues including the decline of our economy.

7th May 2009.