Conservative critics, according to Prime Minister Andrew Holness, utilize the corruption problem as a “political weapon.”
He recently made the comments at the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) headquarters on Belmont Road in St. Andrew, following the Integrity Commission’s exoneration of him in connection with a conflict-of-interest charge over government contracts given to a close friend 14 years ago, when he was the education minister.
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With hundreds of exuberant fans cheering him on, Holness stated, we must use this as an opportunity to reaffirm our own commitment to treating the issue of corruption which has been made into a political weapon, it has been weaponized, and it has been used in a way that detracts and distracts from the real focus.”
He noted, “As we achieve success, there are those who see themselves constantly receding to the sidelines and they have become desperate, they have become corrupted in their minds and in their thoughts and in their deeds as well.”
He added, “We have a term for it, it’s called ‘badmind’, and when they see the success happening, the glorious international recognition being given to Jamaica, they are not able to stomach it.”
The Integrity Commission is facing criticism for how it handled the investigation’s conclusions, which included referring Holness for potential criminal punishment. The findings were presented to Parliament on Tuesday without any mention of the fact that the prime minister had already been cleared of all charges in the case more than a month prior by the Integrity Commission’s Director of Corruption Prosecution.
PM Holness stated, “In every crisis, there is an opportunity. I believe that what has happened has presented Jamaica with an opportunity to take a serious look at our anti-corruption framework and legislation.”
“I think that there is now an opportunity to make the legislation more precise, to make it more practical, and to refocus it on where the problem really exists.”
