Durrant Pate/Contributor

The Integrity Commission has broken its silence regarding Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ outstanding certification of statutory declarations, advising that it is nearing completing its enquiries.

The commission—which is one of Jamaica’s anti-corruption agencies that receives and enquires into the statutory declaration of assets and liabilities of parliamentarians and high public officials—has sought to clear the air on the status of the outstanding certifications for two years.

In its annual report for 2023, which was tabled in parliament this afternoon, commission chairman Justice Seymour Panton comments, “Given the restrictions imposed by the [Integrity Commission] 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.”

Panton acknowledges, “Much has been written and said in respect of the non-certification of [Holness’] statutory declarations. The act makes special provisions for the statutory declarations of the prime minister and leader of the opposition.” 

Obstacles highlighted 

He identified several obstacles encountered by the Integrity Commission in carrying out its work saying its staff, “Face significant resistance from time to time by some individuals as well as some institutions. Those who follow proceedings in the courts would have noted that the commission had to go to the Supreme Court to get an order for Barita Investments Limited (Barita) to comply with a request for information.”

Panton made the point that Barita is not the only institution that has hesitated to comply with the commission’s legitimate request adding, “There is one other institution that has not been as cooperative as the commission would have liked. I wish to use this medium to urge financial institutions to respond positively and truthfully when the commission comes calling.”

He cautioned, “It is unwise for them to endanger their licences or their relationships with internal or external bodies. As indicated in an earlier message, it cannot be business as usual. Delays in investigating matters are also caused by lawyers for declarants, who seek multiple adjournments when the Director of Investigation has had occasion to summon a declarant for a judicial hearing.”

Panton, the retired Appeal Court president, stated that there is also the fear factor on the part of witnesses; fear that they may be physically harmed if they cooperate with the commission in its investigations. 

According to him, “I do not for one moment query the veracity of declarants, but I have noted that the Director of Information and Complaints has received responses indicating gifts having been made by individuals who have died. These gifts are without a paper trail, and, of course, the donors are no longer able to verify same. It is perhaps something worth watching.”