Holness rejects Integrity Commission report on statutory declarations, to seek legal advice
Published:Tuesday | September 17, 2024 | 4:27 PM
Prime Minister Andrew Holness says he is to seek legal advice as he today rejected some of the findings of the investigation by the Integrity Commission into his statutory declarations.
Speaking in parliament this afternoon, Holness defended his financial affairs, stressing that has not engaged in anything untoward.
He emphasised that he has been opened about his finances and has always maintained a clean record.
He rejected any connection to corruption or illicit enrichment.
The commission's investigation report into the income and assets declarations submitted by Holness for 2019-2022 was tabled in the House of Representatives this afternoon.
The investigation looked into allegations that Holness owned assets disproportionate to his lawful earnings.
It also looked into allegations Holness made false statements, by way of omissions.
Among other things, the Integrity Commission flagged the movement of millions of dollars among companies connected to Holness, which it said has not been fully explained.
One instance involves $72 million transferred from Positive Media Limited to Imperium Limited.
The commission is "urging" Parliament to support its referral of a report on Holness' income and assets to the Financial Investigations Division.
It said "there can be no finality" in the certification of assets for 2019-2022 without further probe.
Responding to the report, Holness told Parliament that he will be challenging several findings in the commission's investigation report into his income and assets declarations, citing “errors” made by the entity.
“I reject this finding,” Holness declared.
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