Holness concerned about leak of Integrity Commission reports

Prime Minister Andrew Holness said he is concerned about the disclosure of information from Integrity Commission reports which are yet to be tabled in parliament. 

Last Thursday, the commission submitted to parliament an investigation report, an indicative ruling, and a special report, stating its anticipation that the investigative report, “which was submitted pursuant to and in conformance with Section 54 of the Integrity Commission Act, together with the referenced indicative ruling, full ruling, and Section 36(3) special report, will be tabled in the Parliament as soon as possible.”

This was followed days later by an addendum to its investigative report.

The commission, in a media release, said it received a six-page third-party witness statement one day after it submitted the investigation report to Parliament last week.

The commission says the third-party witness statement is germane to the investigation report.

The Integrity Commission Act bars the commission, the country's sole anti-corruption body, from making any report or public statement in relation to the initiation or conduct of an investigation by the director of investigation before the report is tabled in parliament.

But subsequent to their submission, there have been media reports postulating the content of these reports. 

Speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing on Tuesday, Holness expressed his displeasure with this occurrence.

“I am concerned about leaks, very much so. Concerned to the point where members of the Opposition could say with definitive certainty when the report was going to be tabled and what was the content of the report. I am very concerned and that was even before the report reach parliament,” he said. 

But noting that at least one of the reports concerns his uncertified statutory declarations, the Prime Minister said he is “equally anxious” for them to be tabled. 

He further noted that the reports from the Integrity Commission will be tabled “as soon as possible”. 

“As soon as parliament is convened. The date set for the convening of parliament was the 17th, so as soon as that day is there, I am certain the report will be tabled, and I am eagerly looking forward to it being tabled,” he said. 

- Sashana Small

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.