Integrity Commission urges charges against Wheatley as Jamaica-US deportee talks draw scrutiny

The Integrity Commission has recommended that criminal proceedings be considered against Minister without Portfolio Dr. Andrew Wheatley after concluding there are reasonable grounds to believe offences under the Integrity Commission Act may have been committed.

Director of Investigation Kevin Stevenson completed the report on 20 March and it was laid before the House of Representatives. The commission recommended four charges: illicit enrichment; two counts of knowingly making false statements in statutory declarations for 2013–2017 and 2018–2022; and failing to provide information to the Director of Information and Complaints.

Dr. Wheatley, who holds responsibility for science, technology and special projects in the Office of the Prime Minister and represents St. Catherine South Central, rejected the findings. Given one minute by Speaker Juliet Holness, he told the House: "Let me just use this opportunity to indicate to colleagues here that I have every intention of protecting my reputation. It is a matter that some way or the other can affect all of us as members in this house. And so my team of lawyers will bring to the fore, to the public that I am innocent. That the conclusions are inaccurate."

The commission is an investigative body; its findings are not convictions. The probe examined statutory declarations from 2010 to 2022 using a source-and-application-of-funds analysis. It found total known spending of J$351,538,126.65 against lawful income of J$187,287,000, leaving J$164,250,000 unexplained. The report cites undeclared Scotiabank loans totalling about J$53 million, unreported sales of strata lots at East Kirkland Heights in Sterling Castle, St. Andrew, an undisclosed directorship in Prosperity Realtors Company Limited from 2018, and concerns about a claimed J$13 million sale of Western Medical. A February 2021 deadline for 2018–2019 information was also missed.

Senior attorney Abe Daboub, representing Dr. Wheatley, said the commission refused to treat rental income as lawful earnings despite lease documents being supplied. He also disputed how joint-venture loan repayments were classified, and wrote to the Integrity Commission chairman and the director of corruption prosecution on the day of the broadcast.

Separately, Jamaica is in advanced negotiations with the United States Department of Homeland Security on a memorandum of understanding to accept third-country nationals removed from the US — up to 25 every two weeks. National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang confirmed talks are under way; Ambassador and Minister Audrey Marks reportedly initiated outreach in March. The US has deported more than 19,000 people to third countries, with over 1,500 sent to more than 20 nations. A federal court struck down the policy in February, though it continues pending appeal. The government has indicated the MOU will not be tabled in Parliament.

Political analyst Dr. Nadine Spence said communication has been inadequate and Parliament should scrutinise the agreement. She questioned what Jamaica gains, noting Dr. Chang said any US consideration would not be discussed publicly.