Integrity Commission blocks threatening social media accounts
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Integrity Commission (IC) has moved to block some accounts across its social media platforms, ostensibly because of what it deems to be hateful and de-humanising commentary against the commission.
“The Integrity Commission wishes to advise that, recently, a handful of disturbing posts have been directed at the commission, from what appears be politically aligned social media accounts,” said the IC in post to X, formerly Twitter.
It said the posts contain threats, unwanted sexual content, hateful remarks and de-humanising commentary.
“As an example, one such social media user commented, ‘Wen the election call, you book a flight we your family, we go get you’,” the IC said.
The commission said its decision to block the accounts is in line with its published social media policy and the powers of the Integrity Commission Act. According to the policy, “the commission reserves the right not to allow its social media platforms to be used or tagged to publish or disseminate defamatory or offensive posts”.
The commission said it is committed to safeguarding its social media accounts and officers from behaviour that breaches the boundaries of decency and civility.
The IC has come under relentless pressure from members of the governing Jamaica Labour Party who have alleged that the anti-corruption watchdog is targeting Prime Minister Andrew Holness who has been the subject of several unflattering reports from the commission.
The prime minister is challenging the findings of the IC in an investigation report in September and last week said he was seeking legal advice in relation to the latest report made public on December 10, linking him to a company that the IC said was found to have undertaken a residential development in Beverly Hills, Kingston 6, in breach of the building permit granted by the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation.
The prime minister has denied any connection to the company involved in which one of his sons and business partner Norman Brown are directors. In light of the latest report, Holness has said he feels targeted by the commission.
