Integrity Commission wants FID to probe PM’s income and assets

The Integrity Commission is “urging” Parliament to support its referral of a report on Prime Minister Andrew Holness' income and assets to the Financial Investigations Division (FID). 

The commission said “there can be no finality” in the certification of assets 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, Positive Jamaica Foundation and Greenemerald as companies Holness is associated with. 

“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. 

In the case of Positive Jamaica Foundation, concerns were raised regarding circumstances surrounding the alleged use of funds belonging to the foundation by Holness as a partial source of funds for the purchase of a bond in his name. 

In the case of Positive Media, there were concerns raised about loans issued or transfers made to Imperium.

And in the case of Greenemerald, loans issued to Positive Media. 

The report noted that the Director of Investigation's powers and limited resources, and investigation into allegations of breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act and Integrity Commission Act by Holness, relative to remit and time, do not allow him to sufficiently ventilate this issue. 

“The commission reminds Parliament that, in keeping with the provisions of the Integrity Commission Act, there can be no certification of a statutory declaration until the commission's Director of Information and Complaints is 'satisfied that the statutory declaration has been duly completed.' Once he is so satisfied, he will inform the commission,” the oversight body said. 

- Sashana Small

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.