Phillips scolds Holness over Ombudsman suggestion

Opposition Leader Dr Peter Phillips has described Prime Minister Andrew Holness as "out of order" for suggesting that political ombudsman Donna Parchment Brown has no authority to intervene in "questionable" situations involving public expenditure.

At yesterday's meeting of the People's National Party (PNP) National Executive Council (NEC) at the St Mary High School, St Mary, Phillips declared that Parchment Brown has every authority in the matter whereby a $600-million road works project was authorised in St Mary following the death of Member of Parliament Dr Winston Green.

"The political ombudsman has every power in law to enquire of the prime minister, or any other political leader, including me, any information which they think they need to ensure that there is no breach of the code of conduct to which the Jamaica Labour Party and the People's National Party have subscribed," Phillips argued as he quoted Section 15 of the Political Ombudsman Act.

He stated that the public has a right to be assured that their hard-earned money would not be misused in any way.