“This administration is committed to ridding our society of corruption as is evidenced by the passage of the Integrity Commission Act, which established the Integrity Commission, an institution of which we are very proud. “Under the leadership of Chairman the Hon Mr Justice Seymour Panton, the commission continues to distinguish itself, operating without fear or favour in pursuit of a just and corruption-free public sector and ensuring the best and most efficient use of public resources. “As we commemorate International Anti-Corruption Day in the face of an unprecedented global health crisis, COVID-19, that has had severe economic and social impacts, we embrace this year’s theme and commit to ‘Recovering with Integrity’,” said Prime Minister Andrew Holness in December 2020.
The report by the Integrity Commission detailing the PM getting a ‘shaky’ grade on his wealth declaration for 2021 is being challenged by Mr Holness through the courts. By that very action, most reasonable people would conclude that the prime minister has read the public perception and that that finding has shown that he is not so gallantly supportive of the pursuit of a just and corruption-free public sector as it appeared he was in 2020. The prime minister is entitled to his judicial review with the full understanding that the spicy stew of public perception will be, mostly, on the front burner.
When security minister Horace Chang stated recently that ‘...
the Jamaica Labour Party (JL.
