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Prime Minister Andrew Holness
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Prime Minister Andrew Holness says he will seek legal advice regarding the Integrity Commission (IC) report laid in the Parliament on Tuesday.
The IC, citing insufficient evidence regarding the non-disclosure of four bank accounts in his asset filings, has ruled out criminal charges against Prime Minister Holness for allegedly making false income declarations.
The ruling, by the IC’s Director of Corruption Prosecutions, Keisha Prince-Kameka, stems from a recommendation by the Commission’s Director of Investigations, Kevon Stephenson, who had investigated concerns that Prime Minister Holness owned assets disproportionate to his lawful earnings and omitted four joint bank accounts from his statutory declarations between 2019 and 2022.
The investigation was triggered by a September 2022 referral from the Commission’s commissioners, who had flagged the prime minister’s net worth growth of J$51.6 million(One Jamaica dollar=US$0.008 cents) over five years ending December 2021
“These matters were cleared, as the accounts in question, by my recollection, were dormant, previously reported, and the balance in them were around J$3,000 and Euro 200 (One Euro=US$1.29 cents). Subsequently, my declaration was again considered for accuracy and completeness. Other accounts were identified and alleged to belong to me but undeclared,” Holness said.
“Some of these accounts were opened by my parents as far back as 1975, and my name was later added, probably while I was still a child. Many Jamaicans add their children to their accounts for survivorship reasons and in the event of an emergency.
“I have never claimed this as my assets, and I’m satisfied that the Director of Corruption Prosecution ruled that there was insufficient evidence to support claims that I intentionally omitted bank accounts from my declarations and that there is greater evidence to support my explanation as opposed to evidence to the contrary,” Holness said noting that no other matter in the report was referred to the Director of Corruption Prosecution.
He said the report’s summary outlined that his financial affairs from 2018 to 2023 were examined, including associated private third-party businesses and transactions. Still, only his 2021 declaration was submitted for investigation.
Holness said that more than 3,600 transactions were examined, 28 bank accounts were collected, and over 80 witness statements were recorded. The investigation led to the hiring of a six-month international forensic accounting examiner.
“After this most thorough interrogation of my personal affairs, which is not in any way connected to public funds or a benefit resulting from my office, they were unable to conclude regarding illicit enrichment,” Holness said.
Holness has challenged some of the report’s findings, including the conclusion that in 2022, his net worth of J$1.9 million, or less than one percent of his total net assets, experienced unexplained growth.
“I reject this finding based on materiality and significance, and while I have not had a chance to thoroughly review the specifics of their calculations, just a cursory review of their formula, I have seen an error in figures they have used in their calculations, and therefore, I challenge this finding, on incorrect use of data.
“I reject the finding that I acquired an asset for which the source of funds is not adequately explained. In its report, the Commission pointed out that this episode started with an incorrect statement from a bank. A bank gave a balance verification that I had funds in US dollars, which was incorrect, and so was the asset in question, the subject of errors by the financial institution that managed the asset.”
Holness said that while he authorised the transaction from the outset of the acquisition of the asset in 2019, he was unaware that the financial institution had incorrectly assigned an amount to his account from an associated company.
“I also reject claims in the report that I have hindered the examination of my declarations by not supplying information requests. Let it be known that I have complied with any obligation placed on me within the law. As far as I am aware, the company with which I am directly associated is compliant and up to date with its filings,” he added.
“I will take legal advice on this report and its recommendations, including recommendations for referral to other entities,” Holness said, adding that he has always sought to discharge his duties with respect and dignity and has never lost focus on ensuring a stable, resilient and growing economy, reducing unemployment, improving our security as a nation, building out infrastructure and providing support for the most vulnerable in our society.
He said that the law governing the Integrity Commission urgently needs revision, as the current context of its operations weakens its credibility.
“We must do everything to ensure that the appropriate laws are in place to prevent the politicization of the Commission and to support the Commission in its work. We must also ensure that the Commission, itself, is efficient and pays due regard to the use of public funds and the time and resources required of public officials to comply,” Holness said, adding that law must ensure that the work of the Commission focuses on relevant, significant and material issues.
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Prime Minister Andrew Holness
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Prime Minister Andrew Holness says he will seek legal advice regarding the Integrity Commission (IC) report laid in the Parliament on Tuesday.
The IC, citing insufficient evidence regarding the non-disclosure of four bank accounts in his asset filings, has ruled out criminal charges against Prime Minister Holness for allegedly making false income declarations.
The ruling, by the IC’s Director of Corruption Prosecutions, Keisha Prince-Kameka, stems from a recommendation by the Commission’s Director of Investigations, Kevon Stephenson, who had investigated concerns that Prime Minister Holness owned assets disproportionate to his lawful earnings and omitted four joint bank accounts from his statutory declarations between 2019 and 2022.
The investigation was triggered by a September 2022 referral from the Commission’s commissioners, who had flagged the prime minister’s net worth growth of J$51.6 million(One Jamaica dollar=US$0.008 cents) over five years ending December 2021
“These matters were cleared, as the accounts in question, by my recollection, were dormant, previously reported, and the balance in them were around J$3,000 and Euro 200 (One Euro=US$1.29 cents). Subsequently, my declaration was again considered for accuracy and completeness. Other accounts were identified and alleged to belong to me but undeclared,” Holness said.
“Some of these accounts were opened by my parents as far back as 1975, and my name was later added, probably while I was still a child. Many Jamaicans add their children to their accounts for survivorship reasons and in the event of an emergency.
“I have never claimed this as my assets, and I’m satisfied that the Director of Corruption Prosecution ruled that there was insufficient evidence to support claims that I intentionally omitted bank accounts from my declarations and that there is greater evidence to support my explanation as opposed to evidence to the contrary,” Holness said noting that no other matter in the report was referred to the Director of Corruption Prosecution.
He said the report’s summary outlined that his financial affairs from 2018 to 2023 were examined, including associated private third-party businesses and transactions. Still, only his 2021 declaration was submitted for investigation.
Holness said that more than 3,600 transactions were examined, 28 bank accounts were collected, and over 80 witness statements were recorded. The investigation led to the hiring of a six-month international forensic accounting examiner.
“After this most thorough interrogation of my personal affairs, which is not in any way connected to public funds or a benefit resulting from my office, they were unable to conclude regarding illicit enrichment,” Holness said.
Holness has challenged some of the report’s findings, including the conclusion that in 2022, his net worth of J$1.9 million, or less than one percent of his total net assets, experienced unexplained growth.
“I reject this finding based on materiality and significance, and while I have not had a chance to thoroughly review the specifics of their calculations, just a cursory review of their formula, I have seen an error in figures they have used in their calculations, and therefore, I challenge this finding, on incorrect use of data.
“I reject the finding that I acquired an asset for which the source of funds is not adequately explained. In its report, the Commission pointed out that this episode started with an incorrect statement from a bank. A bank gave a balance verification that I had funds in US dollars, which was incorrect, and so was the asset in question, the subject of errors by the financial institution that managed the asset.”
Holness said that while he authorised the transaction from the outset of the acquisition of the asset in 2019, he was unaware that the financial institution had incorrectly assigned an amount to his account from an associated company.
“I also reject claims in the report that I have hindered the examination of my declarations by not supplying information requests. Let it be known that I have complied with any obligation placed on me within the law. As far as I am aware, the company with which I am directly associated is compliant and up to date with its filings,” he added.
“I will take legal advice on this report and its recommendations, including recommendations for referral to other entities,” Holness said, adding that he has always sought to discharge his duties with respect and dignity and has never lost focus on ensuring a stable, resilient and growing economy, reducing unemployment, improving our security as a nation, building out infrastructure and providing support for the most vulnerable in our society.
He said that the law governing the Integrity Commission urgently needs revision, as the current context of its operations weakens its credibility.
“We must do everything to ensure that the appropriate laws are in place to prevent the politicization of the Commission and to support the Commission in its work. We must also ensure that the Commission, itself, is efficient and pays due regard to the use of public funds and the time and resources required of public officials to comply,” Holness said, adding that law must ensure that the work of the Commission focuses on relevant, significant and material issues.
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