Commentary

This newspaper continues to repose confidence in the Integrity Commission, comprising Bishop Wellesley Blair, Daisy Coke, Cedric McCulloch, Burchell Whiteman and Fred Hamity, recently appointed by the People's National Party to vet candidates and other potential office holders.

We, however, feel it necessary to air a concern. Although the commissioners suggested at a press conference on Tuesday that they have begun to interview candidates, the criteria being used for this, or what has been developed so far, were not made public. Nor will the findings be public.

We understand that the PNP considers the work of the commission internal to the organisation and that its deliberations should be limited thereto, for political parties perceive themselves as private groups, with the right to conduct their affairs in secret.

That, however, can't be the case with organisations that provide the platform and policies from which individuals seek state power. The public has a legitimate interest in how political parties manage their affairs, including the selection of candidates.

The commission has to devise ways to balance the party's and the public's interest.

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