KINGSTON, Jamaica, Dec 11, CMC -Prime Minister Andrew Holness has expressed concern that he is “being targeted” by the Integrity Commission (IC) after a new report by the body was tabled in the Parliament on Tuesday.
In its report, the IC said its investigation found that a residential development, which is still under construction, is being constructed contrary to the terms of the planning approval and building permit issued by the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) on July 12, 2021.
It said the development is owned by Estatebridge Holdings Limited, which has as its directors the prime minister’s son, Adam; as well as Norman Brown, a business partner of the prime minister who is also chairman of the Urban Development Corporation.
In his statement, Prime Minister Holness said he is “not a director of the Company which is the subject of the report” neither is he a shareholder or the owner of the property in question.
“Therefore, it is a puzzle to me why I am a subject of this report,” Holness said, adding that he has been informed that the development has been inspected by the competent authority “which has confirmed that number of rooms approved are the number of rooms constructed.
“Based upon the report, it is of grave concern that the Investigators would ignore the statements given by the KSAMC which is the competent authority that they observed the development to be in structural conformity with the approved plan.
“It is also of concern that the Investigators ignored the statements of the persons involved that explained the works being undertaken, and went on to draw conclusions on construction work that was in progress. ”
Holness said that “it seems more than coincidence, that this report was submitted to Parliament a few days before the delivery of judgement of the Supreme Court in a matter in which I am seeking judicial review of another report of the Commission.
Holness said the “fact that a statutory entity would exercise its powers in such a manner is troubling.
“This transparent attempt to attack my reputation will not deter me from serving Jamaica. While Commission has made no conclusions or findings about me. I have asked my lawyers review the report and advice further advice,” Holness said in his statement.
Earlier this month, Justice Althea Jarrett granted permission to Prime Minister Holness to challenge the investigative report of the Integrity Commission into his financial affairs.
Holness has deemed the report “unlawful” and “unfair” and the judicial review allows the court to scrutinise the processes used by a public authority to make decisions. However, it does not examine the merits of the decisions.
Prime Minister Holness had applied to the Supreme Court on September 30 for 21 orders or declarations, including the judicial review and Justice Jarrett delivered her ruling after hearing submissions from both parties last month.
Holness was also granted leave to challenge the IC’s referral of his statutory declarations to the Financial Investigation Division (FID).
In its 171-page report, the IC’s director of investigation, Kevon Stephenson, said he could not conclude on the question of illicit enrichment, highlighted unexplained financial discrepancies in Holness’ 2021 income filings, and raised questions about tax compliance and transactions of over J$470 million (One Jamaica dollar=US$0.008 cets) involving connected companies.
The commission, which said it could not certify the income declaration, referred the matter to the FID, citing Holness’ failure to provide expense details.
In its latest report that was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, the IC said its director of investigation’s conclusion is premised on the fact that, at the time of his first inspection, the development consisted of four four-bedroom townhouses instead of four two-bedroom townhouses, as approved by the KSAMC.
The commission also said that it came to the conclusion that the breaches were deliberate because Brown had knowledge prior to December 4, 2023, when he gave a statement to the IC that the development consisted of four four-bedroom townhouses.
The commission also concluded that the KSAMC failed in its duty to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the building permit. But the agency said it has not referred the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions, choosing instead to recommend that the report be referred to the KSAMC for appropriate action.
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