Dwayne Vaz says he's prepared to prove he has complied with IC rules

Former People's National Party Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Central, Dwayne Vaz, is insisting he has adhered to the requirements set forth by the Integrity Commission Act, despite a ruling that he should be charged for breaching it.

A report from the Integrity Commission, tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, said the former MP was legally obligated to file statutory declarations for 2019, but failed to do so, in contravention of section 43(1)(b) of the Integrity Commission Act.

However, following the tabling of the report, Vaz stated in a media release that the matter was already being handled in court where he is prepared to prove he has complied with the rules.

"I am fully committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and transparency required by the Integrity Commission and will continue to engage cooperatively with all legal processes. My focus remains on serving with integrity and accountability, and I am prepared to present all necessary information to the court to demonstrate my compliance," he said.

Vaz said he is to return to court on April 30.

FULL STATEMENT:

Following the discussions in Parliament today, April 23, 2024, regarding allegations of non-compliance with the Integrity Commission, I wish to provide a detailed account of the events and clarify my adherence to the requirements set forth by the Integrity Commission Act.

Timeline of Events and Compliance Efforts

1. March 2020: I filed my initial Statutory Declaration for the year ending 2019, ensuring compliance with the guidelines of the Integrity Commission Act.

2. Request for Additional Documentation: The Integrity Commission subsequently requested additional documents concerning a specific entity with which I am associated. Despite facing unforeseen delays in accessing the information, I remained in constant communication with the Commission and sought extensions to gather the required documentation.

3. February 18, 2021: I was informed by the Commission of a potential fixed penalty for the delayed submission of the requested information.

4. Submission of Additional Documents: The requested additional information was submitted, with all necessary documents fully completed by March 2021.

5. May 18, 2021: The Integrity Commission confirmed that my Statutory Declaration up to December 31, 2019, was duly completed in accordance with the provisions of the Act. This confirmation was issued under Section 42 (2) of the Integrity Commission Act. See letter from Integrity Commission attached which states: “The Integrity Commission hereby certifies that your statutory declaration as at December 31, 2019 has been examined. Based on the examination, which does not constitute an audit, it appears that the declaration has been duly completed in accordance with the provisions of the Integrity Commission Act.”

6. March 26, 2024: Three years later, I received a summons to appear before the Half Way Tree Parish Court on charges of failing to provide required information to the Integrity Commission. The hearing, held on April 9, 2024, brought to light a misunderstanding regarding these charges, which appeared to contradict the 2021 confirmation of compliance from the IC. I was charged for failure to submit declarations, which is untrue and has been verified by the May 18, 2021 letter received from the Commission.

7. Court Proceedings: The court recognised the inconsistency in the information presented. I have been given the opportunity to review the Commission's documentation further and am scheduled to return to court on April 30, 2024. Note that the lawyers representing the Integrity Commission were unaware of the May 18, 2021 letter from the Integrity Commission certifying my declaration.

I am fully committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and transparency required by the Integrity Commission and will continue to engage cooperatively with all legal processes. My focus remains on serving with integrity and accountability, and I am prepared to present all necessary information to the court to demonstrate my compliance.

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