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The Financial Investigations Division, FID, is mum following allegations it told the Integrity Commission it had found no cause for concern having reviewed the statutory declarations of Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness.
The Integrity Commission had referred the explosive matter to the FID in 2024, having tabled a report in Parliament which raised questions about the prime minister’s financial affairs.
But when Nationwide News sought answers under the Access to Information Act, the Dennis Chung-led division refused the request.
Ricardo Brooks reports.
Nationwide News first wrote to the Financial Investigation Division on January 7 seeking to know whether it had responded to the Integrity Commission, if it had, when was the response provided and what was the nature of the response provided.
Our news centre also sought access to all documents related to the referral which were handled by the FID, and the minutes of any meetings at which the referral was discussed.
Today, January 26, the FID’s chief technical director, Dennis Chung, acknowledged the request. Shortly thereafter, the division’s access to information officer, Garth Williams, denied it.
Williams told our news centre that the FID had determined that the information being sought could not be disclosed.
According to the FID, it’s reading of the ATI Act meant it allows access to official documents that are administrative in nature. The FID did not cite any specific section of the act that requires requested documents to be administrative in nature.
But it said the information being requested by our news centre related to investigative processes and outcomes. It says it had determined that information falls outside the scope of administrative records contemplated by the act.
The division further stated that the material requested constitutes “exempt documents and/or exempt matter” within the meaning of the act.
It noted in particular that the information relates to law enforcement matters and that disclosure would, or could reasonably be expected to, compromise investigative functions.
In outlining its reasons, the FID warned that release of the information could disclose or enable the identification of confidential sources, or reveal lawful methods and procedures used to prevent, detect, or investigate possible breaches of the law.
Such disclosure, the agency said, would prejudice the effectiveness of those methods.
Additionally, the FID indicated that disclosure could prejudice the conduct of an ongoing investigation into a breach or possible breach of the law, or result in the unreasonable disclosure of information relating to the personal affairs of persons under investigation.
It should be noted that the Integrity Commission itself advised Parliament in its most recent Annual Report that its investigation in the Prime Minister’s finances were at an end.
Well placed sources have told our news centre that the FID has responded to the Integrity Commission and advised that it found no cause for concern regarding the Prime Minister’s statutory declarations.
Our news centre has now submitted an Access to Information request to the Integrity Commission seeking clarity on the matter.
That request has not yet been acknowledged.
