Gov’t Senator: No Need to Continue Probe into PM’s Statutory Declarations

“The matter is over.”

That’s the verdict from government senator, Sherene Golding Campbell, regarding the decision by the Integrity Commission to enlist the support of the parliament to undertake another leg of the marathon investigation into the statutory declarations of Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

The commission, after submitting its report into the matter, asked parliament to support its referral to both Tax Administration Jamaica and the Financial Investigations Division, FID.

Daina Davy reports.

The Integrity Commission’s investigative report and ruling tabled in parliament on Tuesday says Prime Minister Holness should face no charge regarding his uncertified statutory declarations.

But the commission’s director of investigations, Kevon Stephenson, has raised tax compliance concerns about companies with ties to Prime Minister Holness.

He has noted that there can be no finality on the prime minister’s declarations until the FID and TAJ can determine whether the companies identified are operating within the parameters of the laws of Jamaica.

This has prompted the IC to ask for support from Parliament regarding its referrals to the two government agencies to continue investigations.

But, Senator Golding Campbell says the IC does not have any power under Section 54 of the Integrity Commission Act to make referrals to the FID or the TAJ.

The government lawmaker says the IC was empowered to seek cooperation from other entities during the course of the investigation.

Senator Golding Campbell says the Integrity Commission’s probe into the Prime Minister’s statutory declarations is complete.

Meanwhile, Senator Golding Campbell says the tone adopted by the Integrity Commission when it speaks about matters it has probed, would suggest those investigated are guilty of wrongdoing even where there’s no matching evidence.

She singled out the director of investigation’s comments about the prime minister’s character.

She says such comments are inappropriate.

Sherene Golding Campbell, government senator, speaking on Nationwide This Morning on Thursday.