The Integrity Commission has cleared Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar of any wrongdoing in a complaint made alleging interference by her in the appointment of the director of the Financial Intelligence Unit.
The prime minister had previously in a statement made in Parliament clarified the basis on which she exercised her constitutional veto in this matter. Her decision was based on representation made by the Minister of Finance Winston Dookeran, who feared that the stability of the work undertaken by the Financial Intelligence Unit would be adversely affected by any sudden change at the helm.
Dookeran had commended the present acting director Susan Francios for her efforts in the strategic planning and management of the Financial Intelligence Unit and observed that this work would have contributed to the improved rating given to Trinidad and Tobago by the Financial Action Task Force.
Concerns had been raised by the opposition in Parliament that Trinidad and Tobago was blacklisted by the Financial Action Task Force. The government rejected this and subsequently clarified that the country was not blacklisted, but had been placed on the “dark grey list” and were subject to the ICRG enhanced monitoring process.
In June 2011 at the plenary session of the Financial Action Task Force meeting, Trinidad and Tobago’s position was reviewed and was found to have taken action and showed progress and as such were upgraded to the “light grey” list and were not in danger of being sanctioned.
In a letter dated January 16, 2012, the Integrity Commission ruled that there was no breach of the Integrity in Public Life Act Chapter 22:01, and dismissed the complaint alleging interference in the appointment of Michelle Austin to the position of Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit.
