Holness says he feels targeted by the Integrity Commission

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says he feels targeted by the Integrity Commission (IC), Jamaica’s anti-corruption watchdog.

Holness expressed his concern in a statement Tuesday night, following the public release of a 63-page investigation report by the IC which outlined that a company, Estatebridge which it connected to Holness, was in the process of building an apartment complex in Beverly Hills in deliberate breach of the building permits granted by the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC).

According to the report, four units comprising four bedrooms each are being constructed where approval was given for two-bedroom structures only.

“Having read the report of the Integrity Commission, I am concerned that I am being targeted,” Holness stated before proceeding to correct points raised in the report.

“Firstly, I am not a director of the company (Estatebridge) which is the subject of the report, and I am not a shareholder in the company, nor do I own the property in question. Therefore, it is a puzzle to me why I am a subject of this report,” said Holness.

He said he was informed that the development has been inspected by the competent authority – the KSAMC which has confirmed that the number of rooms approved, are the number of rooms constructed.

“Based upon the report, it is of grave concern that the investigators would ignore the statements given by the KSAMC which is the competent authority (and) that they observed the development to be in structural conformity with the approved plan. It is also of concern that the investigators ignored the statements of the persons involved that explained the works being undertaken, and went on to draw conclusions on construction work that was in progress,” the prime minister said.

“It seems more than coincidence, that this report was submitted to Parliament a few days before the delivery of judgement of the Supreme Court in a matter in which I am seeking judicial review of another report of the Commission. The fact that a statutory entity would exercise its powers in such a manner is troubling,” Holness added.

He said: “this transparent attempt to attack my reputation will not deter me from serving Jamaica”.

He also stated that while the commission has made no conclusions or findings about him, he has asked his lawyers to review the report and advise further.