By Nakinskie Robinson
Deputy General Secretary for the Jamaica Labour Party, Senator Charles Sinclair, is challenging People's National Party President Mark Golding's stance that no PNP parliamentarian is being investigated by the Integrity Commission for illicit enrichment.
Senator Sinclair, who labelled Mr. Golding's statement as misleading, said the Opposition Leader continues to spread mischief in a bid to attain political power.
On Thursday, Mr. Golding said his checks had revealed that no parliamentarian from the opposition benches is being investigated for illicit enrichment by the Integrity Commission.
That declaration came after the Commission, in its annual report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, said two additional parliamentarians were being investigated, bringing to eight, the number of politicians identified as having unexplained wealth.
But Senator Sinclair argued that it is nearly impossible for Mr. Golding to be certain that no opposition member of Parliament is under probe.
"As far as I'm aware, the Commission does not, as a matter of practice, write to individuals and state specifically that they are under a probe for illicit enrichment. It's important that the country be clear that concerning this matter the PNP and its president have been up to mischief and have been attempting to mislead the people for their own political gain and advantage," he contended.
Senator Sinclair said the statement by the Chairman of the Integrity Commission, contained in the Commission's latest annual report, which concerns the public narrative pertaining to illicit enrichment probes, is instructive and speaks for itself.
Meanwhile, the People's National Party has dismissed the claims of Mr. Sinclair and insisted that no member of the PNP is under investigation for illicit enrichment by the Integrity Commission.
PNP Spokesperson on Information and Public Communication Nekeisha Burchell said the party is alarmed by Mr. Sinclair's assertions.
According to Ms. Burchell, the JLP Deputy General Secretary is seeking to mislead the country by stating that people are not normally informed by the Integrity Commission that they are under investigation.
"We are saying that the JLP is fully aware that, to the contrary, the Integrity Commission does write to individuals who are under investigation for illicit enrichment and advises them of such investigation. This protocol we know is in place to ensure that those under scrutiny are aware of their status and can respond appropriately."
In furtherance of her point, she quoted a statement made by the Commission's Director of Investigation, Kevin Stevenson, in Parliament: "All declarants who are being investigated for illicit enrichment must be so advised. Declarants under such an investigation must, by law, be given an opportunity to explain how they came by their assets."
Ms. Burchell maintained that, like the PNP, the JLP should also be able to say with certainty whether any of its members is being investigated.
"I am very concerned by Senator Charles Sinclair's assertion that the PNP cannot speak with certainty on this matter. That is incorrect, and by extension, the JLP should also be able to say if the eight MPs under investigation sit among them. We're standing by the statement issued by the leader of the Opposition yesterday that all 22 PNP parliamentarians, both MPs and senators, have confirmed that they are not aware of being investigated by the Integrity Commission for illicit enrichment," she insisted.
The PNP spokesperson called for the JLP to reveal the names of its members under investigation by the Integrity Commission.