Mark Wignall | Full slow ahead

“This administration is committed to ridding our society of corruption as is evidenced by the passage of the Integrity Commission Act, which established the Integrity Commission, an institution of which we are very proud.

“Under the leadership of Chairman the Hon Mr Justice Seymour Panton, the commission continues to distinguish itself, operating without fear or favour in pursuit of a just and corruption-free public sector and ensuring the best and most efficient use of public resources.

“As we commemorate International Anti-Corruption Day in the face of an unprecedented global health crisis, COVID-19, that has had severe economic and social impacts, we embrace this year’s theme and commit to ‘Recovering with Integrity’,” said Prime Minister Andrew Holness in December 2020.

The report by the Integrity Commission detailing the PM getting a ‘shaky’ grade on his wealth declaration for 2021 is being challenged by Mr Holness through the courts. By that very action, most reasonable people would conclude that the prime minister has read the public perception and that that finding has shown that he is not so gallantly supportive of the pursuit of a just and corruption-free public sector as it appeared he was in 2020.

The prime minister is entitled to his judicial review with the full understanding that the spicy stew of public perception will be, mostly, on the front burner. When security minister Horace Chang stated recently that ‘… the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Government has not abandoned UWO’s (unexplained wealth orders) but “we don’t think it is one we need to pursue aggressively”,’ a few were given food for thought.

Think about this, Dr Chang. In a country rife with corruption, illicit enrichment, and money laundering, the Government does not need to pursue UWO’s?

Within the last two years, the same Dr Chang stated that UWO’s were a key tool in the fight against money laundering. It seems that the JLP has not yet properly fashioned the general response to the IC’s negative findings with regard to the prime minister, hence Dr Chang’s confusion.

It is undisputed that money laundering is a major problem in Jamaica. More than a few years ago, I knew a man of influence who flaunted his opulence and fully embraced his violence. He used pretty women to stash some of his money. Above-board arrangements would be made for them to open bank accounts where millions would be kept. The relationships were both business and carnal.

None of the women would dare try to withdraw funds.

To get back to Dr Chang. Suddenly in October of 2024, UWO’s will not be pursued ‘aggressively’, purportedly because there is other legislation that can be used. Minister Chang, you have me chuckling as I figure, not even you believe, what you stated.

A lawyer friend living abroad wrote: “The government has dithered as to UWO’s for years and now they are going to dither more. If there were ‘constitutional concerns’, why have they taken years to express the “constitutional” concerns and not address them?

“Dr Chang, you, sir, are talking out of two sides of your mouth. If UWO’s are not a priority, does this convince the people that your party is perceived more corrupt or less corrupt? Or it could be strongly perceived that you are worried that UWO’s will be issued against your fellow parliamentarians.”

This is the stew that creates the smell and allows the bad odour to drift.

WRONG DIRECTION, PM

Prime Minister Holness is going to court to try to strike down certain provisions of the law used by the IC to probe public officials as unconstitutional. Let me ask a very important question but also a most troubling one. If the Integrity Commission had certified the PM’s declarations, would the PM still be going to court while alleging a constitutional problem?

If you answered, “Of course not!” go to the head of the class. And that would, with little deliberations provide us with the factors motivating Mr Holness’s actions.

Let me crack you up with this question. Would the PM be concerned if the IC did not certify a PNP’s member of Parliament’s declarations and tabled the report in Parliament? Of course not. He would wag his finger at the PNP side of the house and try to shame them. And perversely so, that would be normal politics.

The big factor holding back Golding and the People’s National Party is the inability of Golding/the PNP to hold a six-, seven-point lead in the polls for about six months. To me. that would signal that Mr Holness and the JLP would be forced into a great holdout until September next year.

A six- or seven-point lead for six months would be electorally safe and would provide the PNP with bragging rights. At this time, though, although there is chatter at street level, I would be surprised if four per cent of our people have read the IC Report.

It would suit the prime minister if that status quo were settled.It has never really been empirically established that perception of governmental corruption can dislodge a government, which, as negative as its performance is judged, still adheres to democratic norms.

Exit polls may miss the fact that there are always competing problems, and some may overlap with each other in creating hybrid problems that may escape attention in the study.

The political side of Mr Holness is very active at this time as he would be very foolish to leave his electoral flanks exposed. The extent to which the PNP can utilise its Kartel brand and the extent to which Kartel can take the under-39 age grouping to the voting booth on election day could be one of the surprises. That is, if middle=class PNP voters don’t protest via vote withdrawal.

Early poll numbers are showing that the JLP is still within favourability territory in terms of it deserving another term. The PM’s court battles could play out in two main ways. One, speedy review in his favour. Build up for quick elections – 35 seats?

Two, drawn-out court reviews, the public forgets, and the JLP machinery forges another shiny item to sell to the voters.

Mark Wignall is a political and public affairs analyst. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and mawigsr@gmail.com