The Integrity Commission says it’s still awaiting word from House Speaker Juliet Holness regarding a letter it sent about comments made by a parliamentarian in the aftermath of the February Local Government Elections.
The comment is contained in the body’s Annual Report for 2023–24. The report was tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
The Commission’s chairman, Retired Justice Seymour Panton, says the body is watching to see what actions will be taken by Mrs. Holness.
Robian William reports.
The Integrity Commission does not name the parliamentarian whose conduct prompted it to write to House Speaker, Juliet Holness.
But the body’s chairman, Retired Justice Seymour Panton, says in keeping with its mandate to promote and enhance standards of ethical conduct for parliamentarians, public officials, and other persons, the body wrote to Mrs. Holness in March regarding a statement made by the parliamentarian.
Panton says to date, there has been no acknowledgement of the letter from the House Speaker.
Justice Panton goes on to note that he would like to think that the lack of acknowledgement is an oversight on Mrs. Holness’ part.
He says he refuses to believe that the Speaker deliberately ignored what he described as such an important communication.
In March this year, the Commission noted that it intended to write to Speaker Juliet Holness, suggesting the House’s Ethics Committee address the matter of comments made by former Works Minister Everald Warmington immediately after the February Local Government Elections.
These were the remarks that drew the ire of the Commission.
Warmington was removed from the Holness Cabinet over the remark.
The Commission said at the time that the step was seen as essential to ensuring that the issue was appropriately handled within the parliamentary framework.
It said it would also write to Parliament recommending that Everald Warmington be removed from the Integrity Commission Oversight Committee.
At the time, the Commission also noted that it intended to request that the former Works Minister be removed from the Joint Select Committee for the review of the Integrity Commission Act.
Warmington remains a member of both committees.
As it did in its media release in March, the Commission again referenced the preamble of its enabling legislation as justification for its intervention.
The commission noted in March that Warmington’s actions fell short of the standards and conduct that are becoming of a parliamentarian.
Justice Panton says the Commission is watching to see what action will be taken.
