Samuda FID proposal rejected as integrity debate widens over FLA and PEP results

A proposal by Water Minister Matthew Samuda to have the Financial Investigations Division review statutory financial declarations filed by members of parliament, rather than the Integrity Commission, has drawn sharp resistance from anti-corruption advocates who warn it could weaken independent oversight.

Samuda argued that MPs serving on the Integrity Commission oversight committee should not be scrutinised by the same body, citing a potential conflict of interest. Dr Gavin Myers of National Integrity Action said the commission has handled such reviews for years and should retain that role, noting that the FID reports to a minister and could invite perceptions of executive interference. Mikuel Jackson of Jamaicans for Justice rejected the FID option on similar grounds, arguing that any alternative must sit outside ministerial control. Both supported keeping declaration reviews with the Integrity Commission while calling for constitutional entrenchment of the body, as exists for the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Auditor General.

The discussion unfolded amid wider concern about political pressure on oversight institutions, a stalled joint select committee review of the Integrity Commission Act, and Prime Minister Andrew Holness's judicial review of how his own declarations were handled. Myers and Jackson also acknowledged operational shortcomings at the commission, including the submission of an investigative report on Holness without accompanying rulings from the Director of Corruption Prosecution, and delays in acting on prosecution powers in other cases.

Separately, opposition national security spokesman Fitz Jackson said he was dissatisfied with the response after he asked Parliament's internal and external affairs committee to examine the Integrity Commission's report on the Firearms Licensing Authority. Jackson said the committee, which had its first meeting since last September's election, should invite FLA officials to explain the findings publicly. He said a People's National Party government would require the CEO to step aside while concerns were addressed.

On education, opposition spokesman Damian Crawford challenged the Ministry of Education's claim that this year's Primary Exit Profile results show improvement over last year. Crawford said comparisons are invalid because storms led officials to drop science and social studies and reduce the remaining English and mathematics papers to multiple-choice sections only. He said thousands of students remain below basic proficiency and accused the ministry of presenting selective statistics rather than a full picture of learning loss and exam participation.