PNP raises alarm over vacant leadership at FID amid Holness probe
Opposition renews calls for PM to step aside
Published:Wednesday | September 25, 2024 | 12:10 AMKimone Francis/Senior Staff Reporter
The opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has raised concern about the executive office of the Financial Investigations Division (FID), which it says is currently without a chief technical director.
The concern comes amid a referral from the Integrity Commission (IC) of its investigative report into the statutory declarations of Prime Minister Andrew Holness to the FID for further probe.
Senior members of the party, including Opposition Leader Mark Golding, raised the matter during a ‘People’s Parliament’ discussion they convened on Tuesday.
Opposition Senator Peter Bunting, in arguing that Holness should step aside as the FID combs through the report, said failure to do this means that the prime minister remains in a position of influence.
Further, he mentioned that Holness is on the cusp of selecting a new minister of finance, pending the departure of Dr Nigel Clarke for the International Monetary Fund at the end of October.
The FID falls under the Ministry of Finance and the chief technical director is appointed by the finance minister.
“The FID right now does not have a permanent chief technical director. The head of FID is Selvin Hay, who retired a couple months ago. So it only has an acting head now. So there is not even any security of tenure for who is there,” said Bunting.
CONCERNED
“We can expect that he or she will be carefully selected, but I think the public is right to be concerned. I think any well-thinking person would be concerned. You cannot investigate yourself. You cannot oversee those who are investigating you. It’s just a basic principle,” he added.
The IC, in referring the report on Holness’ income and assets to the FID, said “there can be no finality” in the certification of statutory declarations for 2019-2022 without further probe.
Director of Investigation at the Commission Kevon Stephenson made the referral to the FID over concerns about the funding and operations of companies linked to the prime minister.
The report lists Positive Media, Imperium, Estatebridge, and Greenemerald as companies with which Holness is associated.
“The findings of the DI’s investigation raise significant questions around the income-generating capacity of the referenced companies, relative to the funds which have been identified in their accounts,” the report said.
The FID confirmed that it received communication from the IC last week.
The agency said the report’s contents would be analysed under legislation governing the FID’s functions.
“The FID will undertake a comprehensive analysis of the IC’s report and determine what, if any, specific area may be probed in keeping with the mandate of the FID,” it said in a statement.
Bunting echoed his party’s call for Holness to step aside, arguing that it is the customary thing to do both in the private and public sectors.
“We’ve seen over and over again where persons, whether in the private or public sector, have find themselves in such a position have to step aside to allow the investigation to be complete,” he said.
Last week, Holness said he would seek legal advice even as he rejected some of the findings of the investigation.
He defended his financial affairs, stressing that he has not engaged in anything untoward.
He emphasised that he has been open about his finances and has always maintained a clean record.
He rejected any connection to corruption or illicit enrichment, noting that he has worked hard and honestly for all he has achieved.