(Jamaica Gleaner) Chairman of the Integrity Commission, Retired Justice Seymour Panton, has expressed disappointment that Speaker of the House of Representatives, Juliet Holness, has failed to acknowledge receipt of a letter from the anti-corruption body raising concern about the conduct of a parliamentarian.
Speaking on Radio Jamaica’s ‘Balancing Justice’ programme hosted by attorney-at-law, Andre Earle K.C., Tuesday night, Panton said the commission wrote to the Speaker earlier this year about “an ethical matter in respect of the behaviour of a parliamentarian.”
He told the programme’s host that to date, the Speaker has not acknowledged receipt of the letter although the missive was delivered to her.
“That has been a big disappointment to us,” the IC chairman said.
“I mentioned it in Parliament the other day but the Parliament hasn’t done anything about that, instead, some elements in the Parliament picked on some other areas of my presentation but no attention has been given to that,” he noted.
Panton was referencing his recent appearance before the Integrity Commission Oversight Committee where he was criticised for chiding parliamentarians for their verbal attacks against the Integrity Commission.
Some lawmakers were also incensed by Panton’s assertion that the quality of water that is consumed by parliamentarians in the House appears to have a particular effect on them.
In March, the Integrity Commission signalled that it would write to the chairman of the Integrity Commission Oversight Committee, the Joint Select Committee reviewing the Integrity Commission Act, and the House Speaker regarding the actions of former minister responsible for works Everald Warmington.
The commission said the letter would express the commission’s stance that the former minister should not continue to be a member of the committees.
At the same time, the commission said its letter to the Speaker would have suggested that the Ethics Committee address the matter.
The anti-corruption body said its recommendation had been made, among other things, in light of the preamble of the Act which states that the legislation is “to promote and enhance standards of ethical conduct for parliamentarians, public officials and other persons…”.
In February, a release from the Office of the Prime Minister said Warmington resigned as Cabinet minister following his controversial comments at a Jamaica Labour Party rally that he would starve an elected People’s National Party councillor of public funds.
However, Warmington later declared that he was not fired by the prime minister.