The Integrity Commission has denied that it acted with bias in terminating the investigation against the Prime Minister, concerning his alleged failure to declare a townhouse at Shirvan in Tobago which he and his wife had purchased.
While they had admitted that there may have been breaches of the Integrity in Public Life Act regarding the townhouse Commission concluded there was no criminal offence, as the PM did not knowingly provide false information in his declaration. As such, the commission said, that matter was closed.
In a release on Tuesday afternoon, the commission also denied claims its members received any inducements or offers relating to the disposition of any complaints before it, emphasising that all commission members were appointed following unsolicited invitations from the Office of the President.
In response to allegations by the Opposition, the commission reiterated there was no merit in a claim of a failure to declare townhouse ownership.
Following a thorough investigation in February 2022, the commission said it was determined that while the prime minister had not included particulars of the townhouse in his Statement of Registrable Interests for 2019, this breach did not warrant referral to the DPP.
The commission emphasised that the investigation solely focused on allegations of a potential gift received by Rowley.
Over the course of a year, the commission said its Investigations Unit conducted a “comprehensive investigation” into the alleged gift (of a discount of $480,000 on the cost of the townhouse) providing regular reports to the commission.
In June, a final report was reviewed and recommendations from the Investigations Unit to terminate the investigation were accepted. Reasons behind the decision to conclude the investigation were then conveyed to both the complainant (MP Hosein) and Rowley.
The commission noted that it functions strictly within the boundaries outlined by the act.
Under the Act the commission may terminate a complaint under certain circumstances outlined in Section 34(6) of the IPLA prescribes: Where during the course of an investigation, the commission is satisfied that there are insufficient grounds for continuing the investigation or that the complaint is frivolous, vexatious or not made in good faith, it may terminate the investigation.