Cuthbert Flynn denies Integrity Commission probe as JLP blasts alleged PNP voice notes

KINGSTON — State Minister in the Ministry of National Security and Peace Juliet Cuthbert Flynn has flatly denied that she is under Integrity Commission investigation, answering an opposition call for her to say whether the anti-corruption body is examining her affairs.

Responding to a People's National Party release that sought answers after a deleted social media post, the West Rural St. Andrew MP said she has never, in 10 years as a parliamentarian or state minister, received any Integrity Commission letter about an investigation. She accused the PNP of misleading the public and said the post did not claim she was being probed, pointing instead to lawyer Kenyatta Powell, whom she said repeated the suggestion online. Cuthbert Flynn urged the Integrity Commission to issue a public statement, saying she would not allow her name to be dragged through the mud.

Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal executive director Janette Calder separately renewed pressure for lawmakers to revise the Integrity Commission Act's gag clause, which limits disclosure about active probes. On CVM's Lead Story, Calder said that for people headed for executive power — including those in the shadow cabinet — the commission should at least advise the prime minister and the opposition leader who on their teams is under investigation. Debate also turned on an alleged unannounced Integrity Commission visit to Cuthbert Flynn's home, which she said does not equal an investigation and which she criticised as inappropriate without proper notice.

The Jamaica Labour Party, meanwhile, condemned leaked voice notes allegedly involving PNP members as "shameful and vile," saying the recordings appear to discuss delay tactics against the National Resilience and Reconstruction Authority and efforts to undermine confidence in its head, Ambassador Anthony Anderson. The PNP had not issued a formal response. Political commentator Kevin O'Brien Chang argued the episode, if accurate, exposed hypocrisy and called for stronger civil-society accountability.

At a PNP town hall in Black River, Opposition Leader Mark Golding said roughly nine months after Hurricane Melissa, too many western Jamaica residents were still waiting on promised help. He called housing support inadequate — including a $500,000 contribution for some who lost entire homes — criticised the NAR's governance structure, and said Black River redevelopment must involve structured community consultation.

In downtown Kingston, the Court of Appeal continued reviewing life sentences imposed on Desmond "Ninja Man" Ballentine, his son Janil Ballentine and Dennis Clayton for the 2009 shooting of Ricardo Brown, focusing on voice recognition and identification evidence after an eight-year delay before sentencing.

Child-rights group Hear the Children's Cry condemned the sexual assault and murder of 10-year-old Shennai Ko. Spokesperson Priscilla Dehaney said alleged mob violence against suspect Delroy Koch was troubling because he had not been tried, while counselling psychologist Dr Patrice Charles-King outlined red flags linked to those who offend against children, including grooming and inappropriate contact.

Councillor Jesse James Clark also warned that Bellevue Hospital in East Kingston is overcrowded and at capacity, urging expansion, more funding for the Windward Road Health Centre mental-health unit, and wider police training for mental-health crises.