The Council for Responsible Political Behaviour says it has begun deliberation on a number of complaints submitted over the past week in relation to the upcoming Local Government Election.

In a statement yesterday it said a media release relating to these will be issued by the end of the week.

It also sought to clear up what it says are “misconceptions” regarding its operations and functions.

These, as listed, are:

• Non-partisan Civil Society Organizations created the Code of Ethical Political Conduct which provides for a Council to monitor and evaluate political conduct during the election campaign.
• These Civil Society Organizations then appointed citizens to serve on this Council for Responsible Political Behaviour as their representatives.
• The Council has never been and is NOT funded by the State.
• All eight members of Council operate on a voluntary basis.
• The Council is restricted to its monitoring activities ONLY during a campaign. This was the agreed positions of parties when they endorsed the Code. The Council CANNOT comment on statements made outside an Election Campaign period.
• The deliberations of Council Meetings are engaged with the full participation of ALL members present.
• On achieving consensus, further to its deliberations, a media release is drafted and circulated for vetting by Council Members.
• Only on the approval of Council Members are Media Releases issued.
• All Council meetings, since 2015, are properly Minuted in detail of participation by Council members and can be viewed on request. In this Local Government election campaign, the Council has only responded to complaints made. We therefore continue to encourage the population to report violations of the Code which can then be considered.