PNP-affiliated diaspora group says Wheatley must go to avoid ‘international embarrassment’
A People’s National Party-affiliated diaspora group is calling on Prime Minister Andrew Holness to immediately remove Dr Andrew Wheatley from the Cabinet, after investigators recommended that he be charged with illicit enrichment.
“While accepting that every person is innocent until proven guilty, the allegations are serious enough to prevent Dr Wheatley from credibly continuing in his position on behalf of the Jamaican people,” the PNP Diaspora Region said in a release Friday. “His continuation in this role in Cabinet is an abomination and would leave an indelible stain on the government and people of Jamaica.”
An Integrity Commission investigation report tabled Wednesday in Parliament concluded that Wheatley possessed assets disproportionate to his lawful earnings, amounting to approximately $164 million, and failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the discrepancy.
Based on that report, the director of corruption prosecution determined that Wheatley is to be charged with four criminal charges, including illicit enrichment, knowingly making false statements in statutory declarations and failing to provide information to the director of information and complaints as required by law.
Wheatley, the Member of Parliament for St Catherine South Central, currently serves as minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for science, technology and special projects. The PNP Diaspora Region said it would be an “international embarrassment” to allow Wheatley to continue in his ministerial role.
“We who live overseas are Jamaicans first, and we move in spaces of respect in every sphere of our adopted homes,” the group said, adding “The tarnish of having a member of Jamaica’s Cabinet charged with illicit enrichment and still carrying out duties in the name of the Jamaican government is a stain upon the reputation of Jamaica and an international embarrassment.”
Wheatley has rejected the report’s conclusions, issuing a detailed statement in which he accused investigators of ignoring evidence that he said would have significantly changed the outcome of the probe.
