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JAM | Jan 25, 2025

Stacey Knight calls for Chuck’s resignation

/ Our Today

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Minister of Justice, Delroy Chuck, speaks in the House of Representatives on December 19, 2023. (Photo: JIS/File)

People’s National Party (PNP) candidate for St Andrew North East, Stacey Knight, has called for the resignation of Justice Minister Delroy Chuck following recent comments that assets belonging to the spouses and children of parliamentarians should not be declared to the Integrity Commission. 

Her call follows a similar one by the party.

During a meeting of Parliament’s Integrity Commission Oversight Committee, Chuck is quoted as saying “Why is the Integrity Commission asking members to indicate the salaries of their spouse or sometimes of their children? I don’t know if this is something that is appropriate; because I have advised the relevant members, let them know your spouse is not prepared to divulge their salary.”

However, in disputing Chuck’s claim, Knight points to Section 40 (1) of the Integrity Commission Act which mandates that statutory declarations include the assets of a declarant’s spouse and children.

Knight questions how the minister of justice could be advising parliamentarians to disregard this important legal requirement.

“Why is the minister telling MPs to disobey the law? No public official should encourage non-compliance with any aspect of the Integrity Commission Act, or any law for that matter. If the Minister of Justice himself omits assets belonging to his spouse and children that would be a grave violation of the statute.”

Knight, who is contesting the St Andrew North East seat in the upcoming elections against Chuch as the incumbent Member of Parliament, notes that the very essence of anti-corruption legislation lies in its capacity to investigate not only the assets of public officeholders but also those of spouses and dependents.

Logo of the People’s National Party (PNP). (Photo: Wikipedia.com)

“No anti-corruption law or watchdog institution could operate effectively without the power to examine the financial dealings of an official’s immediate family,” she stated.

“This is standard practice globally to ensure that illicit gains are not merely hidden in the names of spouses or children. His advice to MPs would facilitate illicit enrichment, which is a matter that is currently under the microscope of the very institution he is advising his colleagues to disregard – this is alarming,” Knight continued.

She pointed out that this was not the first time that the justice minister had sought to improperly interfere in the work of the Integrity Commission, adding that last September, in a broadside during discussions about the prime minister’s statutory declarations, Chuck had said that: “It  is about time that this report be the final report and the IC should be mandated to certify the prime minister’s declaration, forthwith, because it has found nothing that could in any way suggest that there is any wrongdoing,”

Knight states that “the post of Minister of Justice ought to be held by someone whose commitment to the rule of law is unquestionable. It is untenable for him to remain when his pronouncements seek to enfeeble an institution such as the Integrity Commission.”  

Knight, an attorney-at-law, reaffirmed her commitment to transparency and accountability, in public life, core tenets she believes should guide all government officials.

“We must uphold the law in both letter and spirit. I strongly believe that any weakening of the IC undermines the fight against corruption. We can have no trust in elected officials whose declared position is to nullify anti-corruption legislation.”

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