(Jamaica Gleaner) Declaring that he will not be intimidated by threats and barbs directed at the commissioners and staff of the Integrity Commission (IC), Justice (ret’d) Seymour Panton has urged members of the anti-corruption body to fearlessly carry out their duties in accordance with the law.
The IC chairman’s remarks come against the background of a social media post sent to IC Director of Investigations Kevon Stephenson on Saturday, which states: ‘Yes! Nasty PNP bwoy yu must go down old germs’, a comment Panton described as being designed to drive fear into the heart of the director.
The IC chairman said he reported the matter to National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang.
The national security minister told The Sunday Gleaner yesterday that if the director of investigation was threatened, it was a matter for the police to investigate and, thereafter, brief him.
Stephenson told The Sunday Gleaner yesterday that he will make a formal report to the police on Monday.
In an interview on Saturday, Panton said there were also senior politicians making defamatory comments about the commissioners of the IC.
Panton said he has been alerted to one such missive sent via WhatsApp.
“It is clear to me and until I see evidence to the contrary, there are members [politicians] … who are saying things and doing things that are causing their supporters … to be acting in the way they are doing by threatening and libelling members of the commission as well as employees of the commission,” Panton said.
He said the defamatory comments were not made in Parliament.
“I will not be intimidated by any of them,” Panton said, even as he expressed concern that their well-thinking colleagues “have been silent. They are silent in relation to the attacks and the libel. They are very silent”.
Scandalous statement
Further, Panton charged that a member of parliament from a rural parish had also circulated “the images of myself and the directors with a scandalous statement that we are trying to bring down either the Government or the prime minister. That is the subject of legal consideration at the moment”.
The Sunday Gleaner has seen a screenshot of the alleged post, which was reportedly shared on September 17 after Prime Minister Andrew Holness made a statement to Parliament on his statutory declarations. Holness spoke in the wake of the tabling of an investigation report from the IC that was referred to both the Financial Investigations Division and Tax Administration Jamaica for review.
The post had the images of four members of the commission and stated that they were “attempting to bring down prime minister Andrew Holness and his government”.
The Sunday Gleaner sought comment from the lawmaker accused of making the post, who replied: “I have never heard of this before.”
Chang, who is also the deputy prime minister and the general secretary of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party, was asked to comment on the concerns raised by Panton.
“There is nothing from the Integrity Commission that I comment on,” he insisted.
An attorney-at-law, who asked not to be named, said claims that members of an independent body set up to investigate corruption were attempting to bring down an administration was a serious allegation that if proven to be true, could be deemed an act of subversion, which would carry heavy sanctions.
He said claims of subversion should not be made lightly, especially if there was no concrete evidence to substantiate it.
Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) Executive Director Mickel Jackson said news of threats against the IC and its officers are deeply concerning, yet, regrettably, not unexpected.
“We have observed alarming comments made by some parliamentarians, cloaked in the security of parliamentary privilege, that suggest a witch-hunt by the IC or imply undue political affiliations,” Jackson said.
She warned that other disparaging remarks made by political affiliates on social media are not only unseemly but also detrimental to the integrity of the anti-corruption body itself.
“While we acknowledge that the IC is not above criticism, and should be subjected to critique as we hold them to account, it is vital to ensure that government officials do not create an impression of undermining this essential institution,” Jackson told The Sunday Gleaner.
Constitutionally entrenched
Jackson argued that the unfolding situation reinforces the JFJ’s firm stance that the IC must be constitutionally entrenched to shield it from the caprices of political interference as it carries out its lawful duties.
She reasoned that if lawmakers have legitimate concerns regarding the IC’s decisions, the appropriate course of action is to seek judicial review rather than resort to inflammatory comments that may incite attacks.
Jackson encouraged the IC to continue its work without fear while taking the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of its officers.
IC Executive Director Greg Christie said the commission increased its security arrangements last week after a well-known blogger invited persons to protest against the IC at its New Kingston headquarters.
“Let’s stand up for our prime minister, stand up to bullies, misinformation, lies and a corrupt IC,” said the social media post, which was later removed.
The Sunday Gleaner understands that about four persons turned up with placards at the offices of the IC. However, the protest seemingly fizzled shortly after, owing to a lack of support.
“These threats are intended to intimidate us into fear and inaction. But they will not work. We must not allow this to happen. We must be forthright and resolute in the continued discharge of our responsibilities and our oath of office, in the interest of our beloved country and our fellow citizens,” reads an excerpt from a missive to from Panton to the IC staff.