Integrity Commission Report Sparks Debate Over Illicit Enrichment Probes

Reporter: Carla Ramdeen

 

The Integrity Commission's annual report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday notes that between April 2018 and March 2026, a total of 70 government officials were referred for investigation for potential illicit enrichment and or false information.

 

This includes 14 MPs and one member of the Senate.

 

The report also lists a number of closures after an investigation or preliminary inquiry which includes six MPs, one counsellor, one permanent secretary, four heads of entities and six other public officials, a total of 18 individuals.

 

The number of rulings to charge or prosecute indicated in the report include one MP, two counsellors, one head of entity and one other public official, which is a total of five officials.

 

Reacting to the report, former deputy speaker and political commentator Lloyd B Smith says there should not be any secrets contained in an Integrity Commission report.

 

Smith said, “We are a small country. Everybody knows everybody. And when we have this sort of you know mystique being created around who is being investigated and why, it creates more problems than it resolves and I think it should be removed. Definitely. And to allow for the Integrity Commission in its tabling to and you know and even within its own ambit to announce and state who are being investigated, what are the charges whatever and then let the matter play itself out in parliament and in the courts.”

 

Mr Smith notes that the system governing investigations by the integrity commission should be reviewed.

 

While he believes the commission conducts due diligence before identifying individuals for possible illicit enrichment, he raised concerns about delays in investigations and court proceedings, arguing that lengthy processes fuel public speculation and public debate before cases are resolved.

 

“Which is why I was suggesting that perhaps there should be a revisit as to how the Integrity Commission functions in respect of litigation and that there ought to be some niche within the court system that allows for the expeditious resolution of these matters rather than they being subject to the regular court procedures, which can take forever, during which time the entire matter becomes you know sorted and sometimes even scandalous.

 

 

In the meantime, political commentator Kevin O'Brien Chang says the integrity commission is a failing state agency. He also questioned whether the country's primary anti-corruption body is delivering value for taxpayer dollars, pointing to concerns about the pace of investigations, legal battles, and lack of successful prosecutions arising from its work.

 

O'Brien Chang says the system requires major changes to restore public confidence.

 

“What is the Integrity Commission delivering to the Jamaican people? We have 2 billion per year. Nobody has been charged or convicted. Not a single politician has been charged or convicted in Jamaica since 1990, 36 years ago. The Integrity Commission was supposed to fix this. We are spending 2 billion a year and getting nothing. The public is asking what value are we getting from the integrity commission? These court cases are nothing new.”