Member of Parliament for South West St. Catherine, the JLP’s Everald Warmington is calling for the powers of the Integrity Commission to be curbed.
He made the recommendation Wednesday at a sitting of a Joint Select Committee of Parliament, tasked with amending the Integrity Commission Act.
Chevon Campbell tells us more.
Mr. Warmington gave a damning assessment of the recent handling by the Commission of the potential conflict of interest breach by the Prime Minister, Andrew Holness.
He accused the Executive Director of the Commission, Greg Christie of acting dishonestly.
Mr. Warmington was strident in his view that Greg Christie cannot continue to sit as Executive Director of the Integrity Commission.
The firebrand MP wants the power of prosecution to be stripped from the Integrity Commission.
Mr. Warmington called for the commission to have only limited powers to investigate matters that predate its creation.
The Integrity Commission was established in 2017 and operationalized in February, 2018.
In a radical declaration, Warmington wants parliament to be empowered to impeach Commissioners and Directors of the Integrity Commission.
Meanwhile, Mr. Warmington’s concerns regarding the Integrity Commission received bipartisan support from members of the Joint Select Committee.
Opposition Senator, Peter Bunting says the commission’s behaviour on certain occasions has been dishonest and unprofessional.
Peter Bunting, Opposition Senator.
Justice Minister Delroy Chuck accused the Commission of bringing the country into disrepute by its handling of the investigation concerning the Prime Minister.
Delroy Chuck, Justice Minsiter.
Legal Affairs, Minister, Marlene Malahoo Forte, described the Commission’s actions as questionable.
Marlene Malahoo Forte, Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs.
