THE Parliamentary Opposition yesterday called on government to conduct a “full and complete investigation” into all transactions between former member of parliament (MP) for Central Kingston, Ronald Thwaites and the Postal Corporation of Jamaica and to provide the legislature with details of all transactions between Thwaites or his law firm and any agency of Government.

Abe Dabdoub, Opposition member of parliament (MP) for North-East St Catherine, notified the House of Representatives yesterday that he would move such a resolution at its next sitting in light of Thwaites’ “unprecedented action” to resign from the House as a result of “allegations of impropriety”.

In addition to Dabdoub’s call for a report on the former MP’s dealing with the Postal Corporation, Andrew Holness, opposition MP for West Central St Andrew, tabled a series of questions for the minister of water and housing, inquiring into the relationship between Thwaites’ law firm and Operation PRIDE.

On Monday Thwaites advised P J Patterson, People’s National Party (PNP) president, that he was resigning as MP due to “continuous accusations about matters relating to my private business and in order to minimise the dislocation and discomfort for my family, church, friends and constituents”.

Since last Thursday, Thwaites has been embroiled in a swirling controversy over an alleged pattern of financial impropriety first implied by Observer columnist, Mark Wignall.

Speaking later that evening on a Power 106 radio programme, Nationwide, Thwaites confirmed that he was the subject of Wignall’s article. Thwaites related that a cheque of $5 million drawn to the Post and Telegraph Department, a client of his legal firm, was erroneously lodged to the firm’s account. He said the money was reimbursed in two instalments.

Thwaites also explained that he had received permission from the Roman Catholic Church to use church property as collateral to transact a personal loan.

But Thwaites’ desire to spare his party from political fallout received an obvious blow yesterday by the Opposition’s action in Parliament

Holness required answers to several questions from the minister within 21 days. He inquired if Thwaites individually or through his law firm had handled any matter on behalf of the government, its agencies or on behalf of any provident society, the vehicle through which potential PRIDE beneficiaries acquired financing to establish their homes.

Holness also wants the housing minister to disclose the name of provident societies that Thwaites represented, the amount of money he charged and received from government and/or the societies.

The Angus Committee, established earlier this year by the prime minister to investigate charges of irregularity in the management of Operation PRIDE, reported that Thwaites’ law firm, Daly Thwaites & Co, had twice received payment from the National Housing Development Corporation for the same work done.

Thwaites had subsequently denied that report, noting that the investigators did not consult him.

Holness wants the housing minister to “state how much money, if any, is being held by the law firm, Daly Thwaites & Company or by Ronald Thwaites, attorney-at-law, on behalf of the Government of Jamaica, any agency of the Government of Jamaica, any of the provident societies and as deposits or payments on … purchase price paid by any purchaser or beneficiary under the Operation PRIDE projects …”.