FORMER Integrity Commission (IC) Chairman Justice (Retired) Seymour Panton has accused some Government Members of Parliament (MP) of adopting an “antagonistic” attitude towards the anti-corruption body.

Panton, who retired in February after several public dust-ups with Government MPs, did not hold back in a broadside launched against the legislators in his final remarks as chairman, which are published in the IC’s 2024-25 Annual Report tabled in the Senate on Friday.

“I am very pleased with the performance of the staff of the commission over the years, notwithstanding the threats and personal abuse that have been levelled at all of us. They have proven that they are committed to good governance in Jamaica,” Panton said.

“Most public officers have been cooperating with the efforts of the commission to fulfil its mandate. However, it has to be said, if the truth is to be told, that some members of the legislature who are part of the governing party have adopted an antagonistic stance towards the commission to the point where they have regularly made false statements inside and outside the Parliament while libelling commissioners and staff members,” he said.

“One female legislator went to the extreme of using an anti-social media platform to post images of members of the commission and attaching outright lies that many have interpreted as an invitation for us to be harmed,” said the former chairman.

“Even the youth arm of that party joined in attacking and libelling us. I regard this whole scenario as shameful. The actions of some legislators have really surprised and disappointed me,” he wrote.

Panton said that the commission had good reason to write to the Speaker of the House, Juliet Holness, in respect of the “unethical conduct” of a Member of Parliament.

“To date, that letter has not been acknowledged,” he said. “Given the reason for the letter being written, it is surprising that the individual remains a member of the parliamentary committee that has oversight of the Integrity Commission. Not only has he remained a member, but he also seems to have assumed the lead role in the effort to dismantle the commission by removing the auditor general and altering the qualifications for membership of the commission. The commission would then suffer the fate of the political ombudsman,” he argued.

While the retired justice did not name him, controversial Member of Parliament for St Catherine South Western and former Cabinet member Everald Warmington has been highly critical of the IC. He had also recommended that the auditor general be removed as a commissioner of the IC, a recommendation government members of the joint select committee reviewing the Integrity Commission Act recently voted to accept.

According to Panton, the parliamentary committee “seems to be prepared to dismiss the views of the solicitor general on the matter”.

Continuing, he said, “The practice of not acknowledging letters seems to have been copied by the financial secretary who has ignored at least two letters sent to her by the commission. That’s not appropriate behaviour by a civil servant, especially one so highly placed.”

Senate President Tom Tavares-Finson, who has been publicly critical of both the IC and Panton, was not spared, with Panton suggesting that he seems to have misinterpreted his role.

“As the appointed leader there, instead of encouraging compliance with the requirements of the Integrity Commission Act, he regularly displayed hostility towards the commission and on occasion was heard on radio calling for the resignation of the commissioners and officers. He seemed to have been offended by the fact that the commission was submitting reports that called into question the conduct of some public officers,” Panton stated.

He reminded public officers of the oath that they took on assuming office and said they should always be conscious of the fact that their duty is not to a sector, group, party, or individual.

“Their duty is to Jamaica, and their actions must be always in the best interest of the country. There should be no compromise when it comes to ethical conduct and integrity in public life,” he said.

WARMINGTON… has been highly critical of the Integrity Commission