KINGSTON, Jamaica — Following Tuesday’s decision by Government Members of Parliament (MPs) to block a motion in support of the Integrity Commission’s recommendation to refer the investigation into Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ statutory declarations to the Financial Investigations Division (FID), the Integrity Commission Oversight Committee says the recommendation was improperly brought and redundant.

The recommendation was tabled by Julian Robinson and seconded by fellow People’s National Party (PNP) MP Phillip Paulwell during a sitting of the IC Oversight Committee on Tuesday.

“It is a matter of public record that the Financial Investigation Division (FID) has indicated that it is in possession of a referral and related documents from the commission,” a statement from the IC Oversight Committee read. “Therefore, the motion advanced by Member Robinson proposed to seek to achieve that which has already transpired.”

“I urge committee members to desist from abusing the processes of the parliament in an apparent bid to achieve partisan objectives,” said Chairman of the IC Oversight Committee, Edmund Bartlett.

The statement further outlined that commissioners of the Integrity Commission have been invited to attend the next meeting of the Committee on October 3, 2024 to give further and better particulars surrounding the recommendations of the report as is normal procedure.

The report from the Opposition MPs recommended that both the FID and Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) examine aspects of the financial affairs of Holness including $150 million worth of transactions with various companies and includes a US$94,000 bond.

READ: Gov’t MPs vote against motion to support IC recommendations for investigation into PM affairs