Cabinet is to consider whether to introduce stricter
guidelines regarding the recall of diplomatic passports.
There has been a mad rush to return the passports after Opposition members were fingered for still having them in their possession.
Friday, State Minister of National Security Senator Arthur Williams told our news centre that a report on a review of the diplomatic passport system is to be discussed by Cabinet.
He said those discussions will inform any changes to the existing system.
"The ministries of National Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently conducted a review of the entire system and the report now is ready to go out to Cabinet so all of those matters will be dealt by Cabinet when they get the report," said Senator Williams.
The diplomatic passports can be disabled electronically, preventing the holders from travelling on them.
However, when questioned, Mr. Williams was unable to say why this step was not taken with the passports that were not returned within a reasonable time after the election.
The guidelines laid down by Cabinet dictate that ministers of government may keep their diplomatic passports until retirement or until there is a change in their status.
It does not however state how soon after either event former ministers should turn in the passports.
Mr. Williams said the system has relied on the honour of the ministers.
"You see a lot of this depends upon honour. While you are entitled you are not supposed to use it unless it's on government business, that's a matter of honour. I have travelled four times since I have been a minister, three times on government business once on personal business. I didn't use my diplomatic passport on my personal business as it is against the rule so that is now dependent upon my honour," he said.
The issue came to light after Mr. Williams who is the State Minister of National Security made public a list of opposition members who had not yet returned the passports, 18 months after they lost the election.
Thursday the National Security Ministry ordered all former Cabinet Ministers and Senators, along with their spouses, who still have the diplomatic documents, to surrender them immediately.
There has been a mad rush to return the passports after Opposition members were fingered for still having them in their possession.
Friday, State Minister of National Security Senator Arthur Williams told our news centre that a report on a review of the diplomatic passport system is to be discussed by Cabinet.
He said those discussions will inform any changes to the existing system.
"The ministries of National Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently conducted a review of the entire system and the report now is ready to go out to Cabinet so all of those matters will be dealt by Cabinet when they get the report," said Senator Williams.
The diplomatic passports can be disabled electronically, preventing the holders from travelling on them.
However, when questioned, Mr. Williams was unable to say why this step was not taken with the passports that were not returned within a reasonable time after the election.
The guidelines laid down by Cabinet dictate that ministers of government may keep their diplomatic passports until retirement or until there is a change in their status.
It does not however state how soon after either event former ministers should turn in the passports.
Mr. Williams said the system has relied on the honour of the ministers.
"You see a lot of this depends upon honour. While you are entitled you are not supposed to use it unless it's on government business, that's a matter of honour. I have travelled four times since I have been a minister, three times on government business once on personal business. I didn't use my diplomatic passport on my personal business as it is against the rule so that is now dependent upon my honour," he said.
The issue came to light after Mr. Williams who is the State Minister of National Security made public a list of opposition members who had not yet returned the passports, 18 months after they lost the election.
Thursday the National Security Ministry ordered all former Cabinet Ministers and Senators, along with their spouses, who still have the diplomatic documents, to surrender them immediately.
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