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Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness
By Kimone Witter
The parliamentary opposition is contending that the Integrity Commission's investigation into the residential development by Estatebridge Holndings at 2 Weycliffe Close in Beverly Hills, Kingston 6 highlights critical governance issues.
The opposition is accusing the government of seeking to downplay the concerns.
According to the opposition, the report highlights concerns it previously raised in relation to critical agencies, such as National Land Agency, National Environment and Planning Agency, Housing Agency of Jamaica and the Urban Development Corporation, which are part of the process of considering and monitoring approvals for real estate developments.
It notes that all are within the ministerial portfolio of Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness, while he and his wife, Juliet, have each been personally involved as investors in the private business of real estate development.
The parliamentary opposition argues that this situation creates untenable possibilities for conflicts of interest with the instant case of the Prime Minister's personal company, Imperium Investments Holding Limited, holding shares in the developer, Estatebridge, at the time building approvals were applied for from the relevant regulatory bodies.
The opposition says this unprecedented situation underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability at the highest level of government.
It is calling for Prime Minister Holness to divest himself of ministerial portfolio responsibility for all government entities, departments, and agencies which have the potential to interface with his private investment companies and their business activities.
The opposition is also calling for the Prime Minister to enforce strict compliance with the Standards of Cabinet Conduct enshrined in Ministry Paper 19/2002, which governs the behaviour of members of Cabinet.
Meanwhile, the opposition is challenging the Prime Minister's statement that he has no connection with the development company Estatebridge.
Turning to the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation, the opposition says there appears to have been a deeply compromised approval and enforcement system during the tenure of the previous administration.
It says the investigations by the KSAMC should be allowed to proceed to their conclusion, as recommended by the Integrity Commission, free of political interference or pressure from the government.
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