KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Integrity Commission (IC) and Prime Minister Andrew Holness have found themselves in a contentious situation about his statutory declaration.
Reports show that the Prime Minister has been uncooperative with the IC for over three years, leading to rampant speculation and the emergence of issues categorized initially as the illicit 6 and now increased to the illicit 8.
With general elections approaching and the awareness that his uncertified statutory declaration may pose significant challenges, Mr. Holness has authorized Parliament to table the IC report about his statutory declarations from 2019 to 2022.
The IC report has disclosed a significant amount of unexpected information, reflecting the sentiments of the Jamaican populace over the last three years. Particularly alarming was the revelation of the Prime Minister having twenty-eight bank accounts. Equally worrying was the association with at least two companies that reported zero tax payments while still showing profits.
Furthermore, the IC report indicated that it recommended the Financial Investigations Division (FID), Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ), and the Financial Services Commission (FSC) conduct thorough investigations into the transactions and business dealings involving several companies linked to Prime Minister Andrew Holness and at least one of his sons.
The financial transactions under scrutiny exceed $470 million, along with other undisclosed sums.
In response, the President of the Senate, Tom Tavares-Finson, defended Prime Minister Holness, asserting that the Integrity Commission (IC) lacks the authority to refer any individual for investigation by the Financial Investigations Division (FID).
In a statement to the media on Wednesday morning, Tavares-Finson expressed, “I am convinced that the Integrity Commission does not have the power to refer any matter to any agency or competent authority to start an investigation.”
He further stated that the Parliament also has no power to refer anyone for investigation by the FID.
“Indeed, if that power were to exist, it would be absurd because it would allow any majority in Parliament, for whatever reason, to refer any member to the police or any competent authority for investigation. The Parliament does not have that power and for very good reason,” Tavares-Finson stressed.
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