Government lawmakers vote against motion to refer Integrity Commission report to FID

Government lawmakers on the Integrity Commission Oversight Committee (ICOC) on Tuesday morning voted against a motion moved by Opposition legislator Julian Robinson during a meeting of the committee.

The motion calls for the Integrity Commission Oversight Committee (ICOC) to support a referral of an investigation report dealing with the statutory declarations of Prime Minister Andrew Holness to the Financial Investigation Division (FID) for review.

Robinson's motion was supported by his Opposition colleague Phillip Paulwell.

Director of Investigation at the Integrity Commission (IC), Kevon Stephenson, said there was sufficient basis on which to make a referral to the commissioner general of Tax Administration Jamaica and the FID for a determination to be made as to the appropriateness of the filing of nil tax returns by Prime Minister Holness.

The director of investigation also wants the FID to determine whether there is any financial impropriety on the part of the companies owned or part-owned by the prime minister. 

Member of the ICOC Pearnel Charles Jr charged that the IC made prejudicial statements in its investigation report on the prime minister's statutory declarations which was tabled in Parliament last week.

“Is this a matter of malicious prosecution?” Charles questioned.

A strident Charles also charged that the investigation report on the prime minister was “laden with procedural irregularities”.

Charles said the IC should be compelled to certify the statutory declarations of the prime minister noting that the director of corruption prosecutions at the IC ruled that no charges should be laid against the head of government.

- Edmond Campbell

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