Petty Politics: Integrity Commission VS the Jamaican Government. The Integrity Commission and the Government have locked horns again. But this time, the row is over the most pettiest of things. It seems the Speaker of the House is treating the people’s business in Parliament as she would her personal business.
Chairman of the Integrity Commission, Seymour Panton, accused Speaker of the House Juliet Holness of ignoring a letter sent from the IC. He said the letter raised concerns about the conduct of a parliamentarian.
Reportedly, the parliamentarian in question is Everald Warmington, the sitting member of Parliament for South Western St. Catherine.
In February, a release from the Office of the Prime Minister said Warmington resigned as Cabinet minister. This follows Warmington’s controversial comments at a JLP rally that he would starve an elected People’s National Party councilor of public funds.
But, Warmington later declared that the prime minister fired him.
On Tuesday night, Mr. Panton was a guest on Radio Jamaica’s ‘Balancing Justice’ show hosted by attorney-at-law Andre Earle K.C.
He said earlier this year, the commission wrote to the Speaker about an ethical matter regarding the behavior of a parliamentarian. But, the Speaker did not acknowledge receipt, even though he knew she received the letter.
House Speaker’s behavior amounts to Petty politics.
Mr. Panton said the Speaker’s apparent petty politics has disappointed the Integrity Commission greatly.
Panton said he raised the matter in Parliament recently, but the Parliament hasn’t done anything about it. Instead, Panton said some members in Parliament picked on chosen areas of his presentation.
Panton drew attention to his recent appearance before the Integrity Commission Oversight Committee, during which house members criticized him for scolding parliamentarians over their verbal attacks against the Integrity Commission.
He noted that some lawmakers were incensed by his assertion that the quality of water they consumed in the House appears to have a particular effect on them.
Reportedly, in March, the Integrity Commission signaled that it would write to the chairman of the Integrity Commission Oversight Committee. Plus the Joint Select Committee reviewing the Integrity Commission Act. And the House Speaker about the actions of the former minister responsible for works, Everald Warmington.
Panton said the letter express the commission’s stance that Warmington should not continue to be a member of the committees. And it specifically suggested that the Ethics Committee deal with the matter.
According to Panton, the IC’s recommendations are in step with the legislation. The purpose of the Act is “to promote and enhance standards of ethical conduct for parliamentarians, public officials and other persons…”.