Senate disregards IC recall, tables report on AAJ's First Rock investment

 

Senate President Tom Tavares-Finson has explained his decision to table an Integrity Commission report in the Senate, disregarding a request by the Commission for the report to be sent back.

 

The report is titled "Investigation Concerning Allegations of Conflict of Interest, Corruption and Irregularities in relation to the acquisition of shares in First Rock Capital Holdings Limited by the Airport Authority of Jamaica and the Norman Manley International Airport Limited.

 

It was originally submitted to the Houses of Parliament on May 31 for tabling, but in an unprecedented move, the Integrity Commission sent correspondence to the Houses on June 8, requesting a recall.

 

House Speaker Marissa Dalrymple Phillibert complied but Senator Tavares-Finson has explained that the Commission did not provide him with any legal authority to honour the recall. 

 

"So based on my analysis of the law, based on the failure of the Integrity Commission to provide a legal basis for me to return it, and based on the position of legal officers of the Parliament in the interest of clarity and transparency, it is tabled. If it is that the Integrity Commission wishes to alter, change or to make a statement concerning that, then they are free to do so," said the Senate president, who suggested the commission may also issue an addendum.