Dwayne Vaz fined for breach of Integrity Commission Act

 

Former Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Central, Dwayne Vaz, was on Thursday fined $250,000 for failing to provide information on time to the Integrity Commission regarding his statutory declaration for 2019.

 

Mr. Vaz pleaded guilty in April when he appeared in the Kingston and St. Andrew Parish Court.

 

Speaking with Radio Jamaica News after the hearing, the former MP said he was fined following mitigation by his attorney Laleta Davis Mattis.

 

"The judge listened to the mitigating circumstances and fined me $250,000 which was paid at the same time in the court's office. Going forward, I just want to tell my fellow Jamaicans that I've always tried to uphold law and order and I will continue doing so. What really happened was a misunderstanding. I was charged because I did not file some documents on time. It was not about not filing. My documents have been filed and certified since 2021," he sought to explain. 

 

Mr. Vaz said he was prepared to pay the fine, but vowed he would not be caught in that situation again. 

 

"I can tell you that when I return as a Member of Parliament, I will ensure that I always file every single document on time because I will not be in this position again where I will have to be fined by the courts of Jamaica to adhere to any rules and regulations," he insisted.