Prime Minister Andrew Holness has expressed his eagerness to have the Integrity Commission’s reports on his statutory declarations tabled in Parliament. He emphasized the essential role of the Integrity Commission in promoting transparency and accountability within the government. The Integrity Commission is yet to certify his statutory declarations for 2021 and 2022.
During a recent post-Cabinet press briefing, Minister without Portfolio, Dr Dana Morris Dixon, confirmed that the early resumption of Parliament to table the reports had not been discussed by the Cabinet. She highlighted the Speaker of the House, Juliet Holness’s responsibility for tabling the reports and declined further comments on the matter.
During the briefing, Prime Minister Holness expressed his anticipation for the tabling of the reports, indicating his wish to address them publicly once they are tabled.
Parliament is scheduled to resume its sittings on September 17, and there have been suggestions that it might reconvene early to aid the tabling of the reports. Still, the situation remains uncertain, and no official confirmation has been made, leaving the public eagerly awaiting further developments.
In response to calls from the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) for Parliament to reconvene early for the reports, Holness clarified that it was scheduled to resume sittings on September 17.
As the anticipation builds for the tabling of the Integrity Commission reports, the big question arises: What has changed to prompt Prime Minister Holness’s eagerness to have the reports tabled? After more than three years, this eagerness is a positive development.