Integrity Commission Report Questions Jamaican Prime Minister’s Financial Transactions

Integrity Commission Report Questions Jamaican Prime Minister’s Financial Transactions

Ambassador Curtis A. Ward, Publisher of The Ward Post

A long-awaited Integrity Commission (IC) report on Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ lack of annual financial report certification was recently tabled in the Jamaican Parliament and made public. It raised a plethora of questions in the public about Prime Minister Holness’ lack of disclosure to, and cooperation with the Integrity Commission. The IC report which was unable, among other things, to find justification for some of the prime minister’s assets and financial transactions has drawn demands from the opposition People’s National Party for the Jamaican Prime Minister to resign. While the Prime Minister’s party and parliamentary colleagues have rallied around him, and have even made demands for the IC to be compelled to certify the Prime Minister’s annual financial filings, there are many in civil society who think and demand otherwise. Eminent members of the Jamaican Bar, have suggested that those in parliament who demand certain action by the IC, including threats to use parliamentary powers to force the IC to certify the prime minister’s annual financial filings would be acting ultra vires.

The Advocates Network (AN), a leading non-partisan alliance of individuals and organizations advocating for human rights and good governance, issued a statement addressing the issues involved and made five recommendations for future actions by relevant government agencies. These are actions which are in those agencies powers to take. The Ward Post fully endorses the Advocate Network’s recommendations.

Advocates Network’s statement is reproduced below in its entirety.

INTEGRITY CRISIS!

Kingston, Jamaica, Wednesday, September 25, 2024. The AN is outraged and deeply concerned about the Integrity Crisis Jamaica faces today. The revelations from the Integrity Commission (IC) Report tabled in Parliament on August 30, 2024, and the response from legislators in the IC Oversight Committee in Parliament yesterday, heralds a troubling development in the governance and moral leadership landscape of our beloved country.

The 177-page Report raised several troubling issues, including issues of tax compliance, conflicts of interest, illicit enrichment, misrepresentation, abuse of authority, insider trading and more. In light of this, the declaration by MP Delroy Chuck that “The IC should be mandated to certify the prime minister’s declaration” is simply outrageous and is unprecedented! The suggestion by MP Pearnel Charles Jr. that the Prime Minister (PM) explore the “issue of Mandamus” to compel the IC to certify his declaration following the ruling is a mockery of the rule of law.

In addressing the issue in Parliament, PM Holness noted: “I have never depended on the public purse. Indeed, I gave up the [214 per cent] salary increase due to the Prime Minister in solidarity with all the people whose income levels is challenging.”

We recall at that time (May 2023), as Jamaica faced another governance and moral leadership crisis, PM Holness stated: “…politicians have a higher moral duty to act in concert and solidarity with those who are suffering. I am particularly moved by that argument.” He noted that the salary increase was considered unfair relative to adjustments of other groups due to the “historical distrust of the political class and a deep belief that some politicians are only looking out for themselves” [our emphasis]. He also stated: “Given the stage of the development of our democracy these feelings should not be ignored.” We agree!

The recent Bluedot Poll revelation that 51% of Jamaicans believe Andrew Holness is leading an extremely corrupt government is the latest evidence of the distrust of our political leadership.

Moral leadership and compliance to the rule of law are now essential to restore trust and confidence in the Office of the Prime Minister. The AN, urges well-thinking Jamaicans to join us and others in demanding that our political leaders listen to the Jamaican people and support the Financial Investigations Division’s investigation so that the IC can certify the PM’s assets to enable compliance with the law. Further, we strongly urge:

The Tax Administration Jamaica to assess the tax compliance of the relevant companies in the IC Report linked to the filing of nil income tax returns.
The Ethics Committee of Parliament to carefully examine the conflict of interest and abuse of authority issues raised in the IC Report. We note with serious concern, the purchase of shares and other equities in public and private companies where Parliament has regulatory and policy making power.
The PM to reassure the country that any change to the Integrity Commission Act will not weaken, but rather strengthen, the IC in its difficult task to fight corruption in Jamaica.
The PM, and all Parliamentarians, should take the moral high ground and immediately sign the IC Code of Conduct to demonstrate to the Jamaican people his commitment to the highest standard of integrity, governance and accountability.
Leaders from all levels of the Jamaican society to condemn the threats of intimidation and accusations being levelled at the officials who serve at the Integrity Commission. It is unacceptable, particularly when the sources are our very own elected representatives in the House.

These developments reinforce our call for constitutional changes to curb Cabinet/Prime Ministerial dominance of Parliament. Without these recommendations being actioned and credible constitutional reform, Jamaicans will continue the historical distrust of the political class and the deep belief that some politicians are only looking out for themselves!!!

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The AN is a non-partisan alliance of individuals and organizations advocating for human rights and good governance to improve the socio-economic conditions of the people of Jamaica and transform lives. We actively encourage citizen participation in addressing the structural issues of inequality, injustice, discrimination, abuse, violence, corruption, and other social problems that have persisted from our history of slavery/colonization and contributed to human rights abuses and poor governance in Jamaica.