Integrity Commission chairman hits back at claims of partisanship, malice

 

Chairman of the Integrity Commission, Retired Justice Seymour Panton, has come out swinging against claims that the anti-corruption body is partisan and has been operating out of malice.

 

During his appearance before the Integrity Commission Oversight Committee on Monday morning, Justice Panton, in rejecting the claims, said people who are making the suggestions know they are untrue.

 

Noting that he has been a lay preacher in the Methodist Church for decades, Justice Panton said malice is not is in his makeup neither is it in the makeup of the commissioners. 

 

"There may be persons who need to repent, and they can join me at church, Providence Methodist, any Sunday. I don't know if something is wrong with the water in Parliament, why some people, the moment they get into Parliament, they say certain things and behave a certain way. I don't know if that is it. As a result, I wasn't going to take the chance of drinking any water here," he said in jest. 

 

Pointing out that 70 per cent of people on the voters list do not vote, Justice Panton said it is startling that it could be suggested that the five commissioners happened to be partisan.

 

In an attempt to put the questions of partisanship and malice to rest, Justice Panton pointed out that prior to now, Prime Minister Andrew Holness had commended the work of the commission. 

 

"In 2020, he commended the commission in our Anti-Corruption Day celebration. He said, 'Under the leadership of Chairman, the Honourable Mr. Justice Seymour Panton, the commission continues to distinguish itself, operating without fear or favour in pursuit of a just and corruption-free society.' That was 2020. In 2022, he said that the commission has done an outstanding job in increasing awareness and understanding of the anti-corruption framework. And as recently as December last year, he said: 'I am therefore pleased to note its work to expand public sensitisation programmes and improve investigative performance and technical proficiency, all of which represent a comprehensive approach to addressing corruption. I also commend the commission's efforts to strengthen awareness and compliance, as well as its dedication to improving responsiveness,'" he outlined. 

 

The IC Chairman urged people who are suggesting that the Integrity Commission is partisan and has been operating out of malice to desist. 

 

"Such statements fuel a sort of mood among sycophants, and in the kind of society in which we live, we need to understand that persons should be very careful of what they say," he warned. 

 

"There is a member of Parliament who has actually...sent out a document with a photograph of four of us saying that we are bringing down the government. Now in this climate, for a member of Parliament to be doing that, is reprehensible. And I have not heard any Parliamentarian condemn it," he complained. 

 

He said the commission remains committed to carrying out its legislated mandate, adding that "it is not fair for the employees to be set in a stage where they can be set upon".

 

Justice Panton also made it clear that the commission takes orders from no one except the Court.

 

In the meantime, the chairman said he has been taking note of reports that have been leaked to the media before being tabled in Parliament. 

 

"If it is thought that anyone in the commission is leaking these reports, we would like it brought to our attention. We would like it investigated because anybody in the commission who leaks as an employee, instant dismissal. But I find it strange that all these things would be leaked immediately after it leaves the commission and sent to Parliament. I find it puzzling to understand if it is happening from the commission, why is it that the leak is delayed until it is sent away from the office? I cast no aspirations."    

 

Government parliamentarians have come out in defence of Prime Minister Andrew Holness after the Integrity Commission failed to certify his statutory declarations over a three-year period and referred its findings surrounding his finances to the Financial Investigations Division and Tax Administration Jamaica.