KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Integrity Action (NIA) has welcomed the release by Member of Parliament Phillip Paulwell of his annual declarations going back over 22 years to the Parliament Integrity Commission and has called on the Commission to speedily complete the annual reports for 2014 – 2016 for them to be tabled in the House.

“This very positive development follows on similar public disclosures, to differing degrees, of the finances of Prime Minister Holness, Former Prime Minister Simpson Miller and Member of Parliament Julian Robinson,” the NIA said, adding that these disclosures are in keeping with best-practices relating to transparency among other democracies.The integrity group pointed out that these voluntary declarations by four Members of Parliament, allow the public, and in particular, professionals with the relevant expertise, to assess the extent to which the popular belief that politicians use their office to enrich themselves is confirmed or refuted by the relevant evidence.“This confirmation or refutation is particularly important in a context where public trust and confidence in parliamentarians and legislatures has declined and is declining in Jamaica and in very many countries across the world,” NIA stated.“If for this reason alone, it is clearly important and urgent for every other member of the House, and indeed of the Senate, to follow the example of Philip Paulwell in not only disclosing to the Integrity Commission but to the Public,” the NIA added.