The standoff between the Prime Minister, Andrew Holness and the Integrity Commission, concerning his uncertified statutory declarations has taken a major turn.
The prime minister has gone to the Supreme Court to seek judicial review of the actions, non-actions and comments made by the Commission and two of its directors: Craig Beresford, the director of information and complaints and Kevon Stephenson, director of investigations.
The move by Holness relates to the contents of two reports tabled in parliament and which concern his statutory declarations. The first report is dated August 5, 2024 and the second, September 30, 2024.
We have more in this report from George Davis.
The application filed on behalf of Prime Minister Holness by his attorneys, Henlin Gibson Henlin, is stamped September 30, 2024, Civil Division, Supreme Court.
It names Holness and three of his companies – Imperium Holdings Limited, Positive Media Solutions and Positive Jamaica Foundation – as the three applicants.
The companies named are the same three flagged by the Integrity Commission as the subject of further investigation.
The IC has declared publicly that it wants the probe to be done by Tax Administration Jamaica, TAJ, and the Financial Investigations Division, FID.
Beresford, Stephenson and the Integrity Commission are the three respondents.
Holness’ attorneys have set down 30 points on which they are seeking judicial review.
Among them:
That Craig Beresford failed or refused to act impartially, fairly and independently to carry out his statutory duty to examine the 2022 and 2023 statutory declarations of the prime minister;
That Craig Beresford and or the commission failed to or refused to certify his 2021 and 2022 statutory declarations and or provide reasons for being unable to certify them; and
That Kevon Stephenson carried out an investigation into the prime minister’s 2022 and 2023 declarations although there was no referral for an investigation by Craig Beresford.
Holness’ lawyers also want judicial review of the decision to continue or keep the investigation open in relation to the prime minister’s 2021 declaration, notwithstanding findings or conclusions that, for the year 2021, there was negative net worth of $10.4 million.
This means that there was no unexplained growth in the prime minister’s net worth, which, according to the numbers, declined by the said $10.4 million.
Holness’ attorneys also want judicial review of the act or decision to recommend the referral of two of the three companies linked to Holness to the TAJ and FID.
Henlin Gibson and Henlin wants the court to make 20 orders or declarations in its client’s favour and award him damages for Breach of Privacy, including stigma damages; Damages For Negligent Investigation; Vindicatory Damages; Damages; Costs and such further or other relief as the Court may deem necessary or appropriate.
The action by Holness marks the first time the prime minister has publicly gone on the front foot to counterattack an issue that has caused him to bleed political capital and cause Jamaicans to question his integrity.
Credit: Source link