Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has declared an all-out war on corruption, insisting the People’s Partnership government was “deadly serious” about the issue.
“As prime minister, I will not tolerate (or) condone, nor will I defend a corrupt practice. I will not allow anyone to breach the sacred public trust,” she stressed on Friday, January 21st, while delivering an opening address at a day-long seminar for chairmen and directors of state boards at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port-of-Spain.
The event, which was attended by government ministers, heads of local government bodies, cultural activists and prominent members of the business fraternity, dealt with the roles and responsibilities of board members as well as governance issues relating to the promotion of best practices within the state enterprises’ sector. Facilitators included prominent attorney Ronnie Bissessar.
Persad-Bissessar, who read her address from the head table due to a minor leg ailment, noted that the eradication of corruption in all spheres of national life was the major platform on which the People’s Partnership had campaigned in the run-up to the May 24, 2010, general election.
“In clear and unambiguous terms, we pledge to this country that we will end the nefarious practices which not only divide our people but rob them blind of their patrimony,” she said.
Stating that corruption was endemic in the society, she told the appointees they were charged with the responsibility to govern their boards with transparency and accountability.
She said that since assuming office eight months ago, the government made concerted efforts to stamp out corruption in its various manifestations. (TT Newsday)
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