Integrity Commission warns court challenges slowing its work
KINGSTON, Jamaica—Executive Director of the Integrity Commission (IC) Craig Beresford says the commission has experienced an increase in high-profile public law litigation regarding its investigative outputs.
“This trend was characterised by the increasing use of interim injunctions by external parties, which served to delay or halt active investigations and defer the publication of statutory outputs,” said Beresford in the IC’s 2025/26 Annual Report which was tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
He said while these complex legal proceedings required a substantial allocation of fiscal and human resources, they underscored the robust nature of the commission’s legal frameworks.
“The organisation will continue to defend its statutory mandate against adversarial challenges. Rather than diminishing systemic impact, navigating these sophisticated legal developments has further fortified the commission’s procedural execution and risk-mitigation strategies,” Beresford said.
The executive said that in moving forward, the IC remains resolute in protecting its statutory mandate, ensuring that the transparency and timing of its anti-corruption outputs are maintained in strict alignment with the public interest.
“As the commission looks ahead, it remains firmly committed to strengthening institutional capacity and enhancing the effectiveness of its anti-corruption mandate by engaging all crucial stakeholders and partners,” said Beresford.
He added that, “Building on the progress achieved during the reporting period, priority will be placed on advancing key strategic objectives, including improving operational efficiency.
“Central to this forward trajectory is the continued focus on organisational development, including the recruitment and retention of skilled personnel, the implementation of policies, and the modernisation of systems and processes”.
Additionally, the IC said it will deepen its engagement with policymakers and key stakeholders to address legislative and structural challenges hindering its operations.
“Through these efforts, the commission aims to foster greater collaboration within the context of the anticipated National Anti-corruption Strategy, enhance compliance, reinforce public trust and promote good governance,” it said.