THE Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has slapped Justice Minister Delroy Chuck over his advice to parliamentarians not to report the salaries of their spouses and children to the Integrity Commission (IC) and has demanded his immediate resignation.

In a media release on Thursday the PNP said its call came against the background of recent “reckless and egregious statements” by Chuck regarding the operation of the IC.

Addressing a meeting of Parliament’s Integrity Commission Oversight Committee on Tuesday, Chuck argued that the salaries of spouses or children are their personal business and should not be given to the IC.

“Why is the Integrity Commission asking members to indicate the salaries of their spouse or sometimes of their children? I don’t know if this is something that is appropriate, because I have advised the relevant members, let them know your spouse is not prepared to divulge their salary,” he said, adding that by doing so the MPs are not able to share the information.

But in the Thursday media release Opposition spokesperson on justice Senator Donna Scott-Mottley said Chuck’s remarks amount to nothing less than an “open assault” on Jamaica’s legal and ethical foundations.

“The minister of justice has demonstrated both a shocking ignorance of the law and a brazen willingness to encourage others to break it,” said Scott-Mottley.

“Such disgraceful conduct from the chief steward of our justice system, who is also a King’s Counsel, is a direct attack on the rule of law and the very principles of accountability and transparency that underpin our democracy.

“This instance is the latest and most egregious example of several similar comments by this minister of justice,” added Scott-Mottley.

She charged that Chuck’s statements not only undermine the independence of the IC but also embolden lawlessness at the highest levels of Government, signalling to the Jamaican people that laws are malleable tools to be manipulated for political expediency, or that those who make laws are above the law.

“Further, the seeming justification of his statements based on the reluctance of spouses is indicative of a greater lack of understanding of the law by the minister,” charged Scott-Mottley.

“The Opposition calls on Prime Minister Andrew Holness to immediately demand Minister Chuck’s resignation. Any failure to act will be seen as a tacit endorsement of this lawless behaviour and an admission that the Administration prioritises political survival over the rule of law.

“Our democracy, our institutions, and our people deserve leaders who will uphold the law, not trample on it for their own convenience,” added Scott-Mottley hours after founding head of the anti-corruption group National Integrity Action, Professor Trevor Munroe, called on the Holness Administration to distance itself from the comments made by Chuck.

“The position needs to be disavowed by the Government and the minister reprimanded, if he declines to withdraw,” Munroe told the Jamaica Observer on Wednesday.

“Less than this, Chuck’s statement would have to be regarded as the Government’s position,” argued Munroe.

The IC, in a media release, also on Wednesday, charged that Chuck was ignorant of pertinent provisions of the Integrity Commission Act.

“Section 40(1) of the Integrity Commission Act 2017 further provides as follows: A statutory declaration shall include such particulars as are known to the declarant of the income, assets, and liabilities of the spouse and children, where applicable, of the declarant,” the IC further pointed out.

“Consequently, all parliamentarians and public officials, who are required to file statutory declarations, are obligated under the Act to disclose pertinent information, including spousal income details,” the IC said as it pointed out that the provision was written into Jamaican law by Jamaican lawmakers themselves.