Integrity Commission's processes related to Holness' statutory declarations 'nearing completion'

The Integrity Commission, Jamaica's main anti-corruption agency, said its "processes" involving income and assets declarations by Prime Minister Andrew Holness "are nearing completion".

The commission's chairman Justice Seymour Panton gave the update in his remarks in the agency's annual report for 2023-2024 that was tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon. 

Holness' declarations for 2021 have not been certified, which has affected subsequent submissions.

The issue has been a major source of political controversy especially with general elections just over a year away. 

Justice Panton acknowledged public questions about the issue, saying "much has been written and said" over the non-certification of Holness' declarations. 

He noted that the director of information and complaints is required to examine the declarations and inform the commission once he is satisfied that they are completed.

"It must be remembered that to satisfy himself of the due completion of a statutory declaration, the director of information and complaints 'shall make such enquiries as he considers necessary'. The enquiries are aimed at determining accuracy," he said, with reference to the Integrity Commission Act. 

Panton added: "Given the restrictions imposed by the act as regards statutory declarations generally, and matters related thereto, I may only say that the processes of the commission are nearing completion in respect of the prime minister's declarations."

In February, Holness confirmed that he was in the process of providing additional information sought by the commission. 

In an interview on Nationwide Radio on Monday Holness said he and the commission have had further exchanges. 

"They have written to me, I have written back to them. They have written to me, I have written back to them. And, it is still a matter for the Integrity Commission. Like you, I, too, am anxious to have this matter resolved," he said.

Holness didn't give specifics on the enquiries but he said said the commission has been examining his personal finances "going back several years". "That takes time. Because it is just not my response alone that they have to await. They have to await the responses of several other agencies ..it's a very detailed process."

Asked about the political implications for him, the prime minister said: "I have followed the process as best as I can and I can only await the Integrity Commission. I am in an invidious position because I am the one that has to ensure that the law is respected and, therefore, you will never hear me make any complaint even if I feel it has been unfair and unduly so to me."

The Integrity Commission is blocked by law from commenting on its investigations until a report is tabled in Parliament. 

Under the law, a summary of the certified declarations for the prime minister and the opposition leader are to be published. Those for Opposition Leader Mark Golding have been published. The status of the 2023 submissions is expected to be published later this year. 

Meanwhile the Integrity Commission has disclosed that in September 2023, it embarked on an initiative to examine incomes and assets declared by all parliamentarians for December 2018 to December 2022. It said an assessment of declarations for 2023 will follow during this financial year which ends in March 2025. 

The commission said it has examined 68 per cent or 374 of the 549 of declarations parliamentarians, as at December 31, 2023.

Follow The Gleaner on X 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.