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No fear or favour
🇯🇲 Jamaica /Crime & Justice

No fear or favour

From Jamaica Observer · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Jamaica's Integrity Commission will pursue its mandate "without fear or favour," despite increasing court challenges.
  • The commission faces concerns that litigation may impede its ability to combat corruption.
  • Legal actions consume significant time and resources, potentially hindering investigations.

Jamaica's Integrity Commission (IC) is committed to upholding its anti-corruption mandate independently, even as it navigates a rising tide of court challenges. Ret'd Justice Carol Lawrence Beswick, chair of the IC, stated the commission will operate "without fear or favour," guided by law and a dedication to integrity and accountability in public life.

without fear or favour

— Ret’d Justice Carol Lawrence BeswickChair of Jamaica’s Integrity Commission, vowing to pursue the watchdog's mandate fairly and independently.

Beswick noted an increase in legal actions against the commission and its leadership during the 2025/26 reporting period. While respecting the right to judicial processes, she warned that the growing trend of litigation could impede the commission's timely discharge of responsibilities. Defending these cases demands substantial time, financial resources, and institutional capacity that could otherwise be directed toward corruption investigations and prevention.

guided at all times by the law, the principles of justice, and the unwavering commitment to integrity, transparency and accountability in public life

— Ret’d Justice Carol Lawrence BeswickDescribing the principles that will guide the Integrity Commission's actions.

Executive Director Craig Beresford echoed these concerns, highlighting the increasing use of interim injunctions by external parties to delay or halt investigations and statutory outputs. He pointed out that these complex legal proceedings divert crucial fiscal and human resources. The IC is pursuing seven legal matters before the courts, some involving legacy entities, and is committed to defending its enforcement powers under the Integrity Commission Act.

There is a legitimate concern that the increasing resort to litigation against the commission and its officers in the execution of their lawful duties may, whether intentionally or otherwise, impede the timely discharge of the commission’s responsibilities

— Ret’d Justice Carol Lawrence BeswickWarning about the potential impact of legal challenges on the commission's work.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jamaica Observer. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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