Editor’s Note: Nationwide News Network, NNN, notes the reaction to this story by Clyde Williams. We note the strong position taken by Clyde and his assertion that we engaged in ‘bending’ his words. In the wake of his comments about the story and his claim that we removed the vertebra from his words, we have acted. In acting, we removed said story from our platforms and reached out to Clyde to discuss the contentious issue. Our removal of the story was to give us a basis, on which to fairly proceed to amend the story, subject to an agreement with him about the specific amendment he requires. Clyde has not responded to us. In the absence of his contribution, we have completed our review of the story and stand by what we published originally. Indeed we are reposting the story. Accompanying it are the exact tweets from which we developed the original story.
See story below.
Attorney-at-law, Clyde Williams, says in his view, it is unlawful for the Integrity Commission to postpone certification of Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ Statutory Declaration until a review of aspects of the operations of three companies associated with the Prime Minister is conducted by the Financial Investigation Division, FID.
The Integrity Commission wrote to Parliament recently and urged its support for referring its report to the FID.
The Commission wrote, “there can be no finality in the matter until the FID has completed its work.”
Mr. Williams says in his view, the Commission is breaching the law.
Williams wrote on the social media platform X – “concerning a recommendation of a referral to FID. In my opinion that is unlawful. The IC cannot postpone the decision on certification on that basis. A Judicial Review Claim is a live option.”
Mr. Williams says the Integrity Commission Act empowers FID and Tax Administration Jamaica during its investigations.
He says upon completion the Director of Investigation must either say no reasonable basis to suspect a corruption offence or recommend a referral to the Director of Public Prosections.
The attorney says the Integrity Commission Act empowers the Commission to engage in structured and principled cooperation with public bodies during its probe.
He says the Commission does not have the power to make a referral to the FID subsequent to sending a report for tabling and to postpone certification of Statutory declarations pending feedback from the FID.
Senate President Tom Tavares-Finson has also stated the FID has no lawful power to request that the FID initiate an investigation. Senator Tavares-Finson says Parliament also had no power to make such a referral.
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