The Parliamentary Opposition is confident that none of its members are among the six Parliamentarians the Integrity Commission is investigating for illicit enrichment.
In its annual report tabled in Parliament last month, the Commission revealed that six parliamentarians are under investigation.
Opposition Spokesperson on Justice Donna Scott Mottley says the PNP’s leadership contacted all current members individually and is satisfied that no member has received communication from the Commission.
Once again, she called on Prime Minister Andrew Holness to state publicly whether a member of his Cabinet is under investigation.
“I believe that it is incumbent on the Prime Minister to make a similar inquiry of his team, and I would expect that if anybody says yes, he would take action against them. If they all say no, and it turns out that they are not being truthful, then there would be even more reason to take stringent action against them. There have to be penalties for misleading the leader,” she asserted.
Opposition Spokesperson for Justice, Donna Scott Mottley.
Mrs. Scott Mottley said any government member under investigation should voluntarily step aside from their official duties during the probe.
She called into remembrance 2013 when then-a junior minister in the transport, works, and housing ministry, Richard Azan, was under investigation by the Contractor General. At that time, she quipped, Mr. Holness, then Leader of the Opposition, called for Mr. Azan to step away from his position.
“He went further. He said that the opposition would refuse to sit in the House with him and that if the Prime Minister [Portia Simpson Miller] did not ask him to step aside, she would be presiding over a corrupt government,” Mrs. Scott Mottley recalled.
Opposition Spokesperson for Justice, Donna Scott Mottley.
She argued that while there is the presumption of innocence until proven guilty when allegations get raised against people in certain positions, the general practice must be that the accused should step aside from their substantive post.