Complaints to the Integrity Commission
A Person who has reasonable grounds to believe that a person in public life is in breach of any provision of the Code of Conduct may make a complaint in writing to the commission and shall state in the complaint the particulars of the breach including:
- A period within which the breach was committed; and
- The name (s) and address (es) of person (s) involved in the commission of the breach
A person making a complaint shall produce to the Commission:
- Evidence to support the complaint including documentary evidence and sworn statements; and
- Such other particulars as may be prescribed
A person making a complaint shall not be liable in Civil or Criminal Proceedings unless it is proved that the complaint was not made in good faith.
Rejection of a Complaint
Where a complaint has been made to the Commission, the Commission after examination of the complaint may reject the complaint if the Commission is of the opinion that-
- The complaint is frivolous or vexatious; or
- The complaint does not pertain to a matter the Commission is empowered to deal with under the Integrity Commission Act.
A complaint shall not be rejected by the Commission without the Commission giving the person who made the complaint a reasonable opportunity to be heard.
Investigation of Complaint
Where upon an examination of a complaint, the Commission is of the view that an investigation is necessary, it shall inquire into the matter.
The sittings of the Commission to hear the evidence or submissions in the course of an inquiry, shall be held at the Office of the Integrity Commission nor any place selected by the members of the Commission.
A person who makes a complaint and the Person in Public Life against whom the complaint is made and subsequent inquiry held, shall be served with a Notice of Proceedings of Inquiry. Those person (s) may be represented at the Inquiry either in person or by an Attorney – at – law.
Vision: “To improve Public Confidence in the Integrity of Persons in Public Life.”
Mission: “Securing the Integrity of Persons in Public Life.”
Mandate: Administering and enforcing the Integrity Commission Act which comprises of the Code of Conduct, and Declarations of income, assets and liabilities.
Declaration Statistics
Press Release
Declaration Statistics
Press Release
The Tenth (10th) annual conference of the Commonwealth Caribbean
Association of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies
(CCAICACB) was successfully held in Nassau, The Bahamas.
Please click link for more information
Welcome to the Guyana Integrity Commission’s website which provides public officers with a suitable platform to address relevant questions about the Commission and its work. This website also educates and informs the public about the Integrity Commission’s mandate.
Why a Code of Conduct is important?
- Aims to foster the core values in the Public Service
- Helps to encourage responsible behavior
- Promotes an identity statement for the Public Service
- Allows Public Service workers to benchmark their performances
- Acts as a mechanism for curbing unfair treatment in the Public Service
- Provides a measure of consistency in dealing with key issues in the Public Service
History: The date of accession of the Integrity Commission Act (“The Act”) was 24th September, 1997.
The Act provides for the establishment of the Integrity Commission. It makes provision for securing of the integrity of Persons in Public Life.
The Act also provides for the appointment of a chairman and two (2) to four (4) other members to comprise the Commission, a Secretary to oversee its daily functions and other officers for its effective administration.
The Commission: The current members were appointed on the 30th May, 2022 for a period of three years.
The Members are:
Mrs. Chandra Gajraj- Chairperson
Dr. Joycelin Kim Kyte-Thomas, Ph.D.- Commissioner
Mr. Hardesh Tewari - Commissioner
Mr. Mohamed Ispahani - Haniff -Commissioner
Reverend Wayne Bowman - Commissioner
Secretary to the Commission: Dr. Amanda Jaisingh
Former members: (The life of the Commission came to an end on February 21, 2021.)
Former Chairman: The late Mr. Kumar Doraisami
Former Commissioners:
- Pandit Rabindranath Persaud
- Mrs. Rosemary Benjamin-Noble
Overall functions of the Commission:
The Commission is not subject to the direction or control of any person or authority; and regulates its own procedures.
Purpose of the Commission
- To improve governance by securing the Integrity of Persons in Public Life.
- To receive, examine, and retain declarations of assets, liabilities, income and interests from specified Persons in Public Life.
Roles and Functions of the Commission
The Commission was established to ensure that Persons in Public Life maintain high standards of integrity in the performance of their public functions. This assists in the improvement of the standards of good governance, transparency and accountability in government.
The Integrity Commission is duty bound to receive and verify the accuracy of declarations of financial affairs from Persons in Public Life. This correlates to the following duties engaged by the Commission:
- To investigate complaints of impropriety, corruption and misconduct by public officials;
- To prosecute persons who may have breached provisions of the Code of Conduct and those who failed to file their declarations of assets and liabilities.
Daily Functions of the Commission:
- To carry out those functions and exercise the powers as permitted and delineated in the Integrity Commission Act, No. 20 of 1997.
- To receive, examine and retain all declarations filed as permitted and delineated in the Integrity Commission Act, No.20 of 1997.
- To make inquiries together with request for further documents, where applicable, to verify or determine the accuracy of a declaration filed in accordance to the Integrity Commission Act, No. 20 of 1997.
- To receive and investigate all complaints regarding any alleged breaches of the provisions of the Integrity Commission Act, No. 20 of 1997 and Code of Conduct.
- To investigate the conduct of any person falling under the purview of the Commission subject to Schedule 1 of the Integrity Commission Act, No. 20 of 1997.
Complaints maybe related to:
- Alleged Dishonesty
- Alleged Corruption
- Performance of any other functions as may be required by the Integrity Commission Act, No. 20 of 1997.
Core Values
- Accountability
- Dignity
- Diligence
- Duty
- Honour
- Integrity
- Loyalty
- Objectivity
- Responsibility
- Transparency
BIO-DATA
Kumar Doraisami- Appointed Chairman of the Integrity Commission on February 22, 2018. Former Magistrate and retired Land Court Judge. West Indian trained Attorney-at-Law, coupled with a Bachelor of Science from York University and a three year Diploma in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering Technology. Currently in private practice.
Rosemary Benjamin-Noble – Commissioner Benjamin - Noble is a West - Indian trained Attorney - at - Law and appointed as a member of the Commission in February, 2018. She is currently the Senior Manager-Legal & Compliance at Citizens Bank Guyana Inc. Commissioner Benjamin- Noble holds a Master's Degree in International Education and served on the Rights of the Child Commission as Deputy Chairperson. She supported the work of organizations which focuses on betterment of women and children capacities in other Commissions and bodies.
Rabindranath Persaud – Commissioner Persaud is a Hindu Priest and appointed as a member of the Commission in February, 2018. He has also severed as a Commissioner prior to 2009 membership of the Commission and is currently the President of the Viraat Sabhaa, Justices of the Peace and Commissioner of Oaths to Affidavits (JP/COA) and served on various government boards such as Ministry of Public Health Board, Central Housing & Planning Authority Board, Lusignan Prison Board and the National Commission for the Family.