Not a new idea!

Jamaica's Integrity Commission has consistently pushed for an external body to examine the statutory declarations of its own staff since 2021, according to Executive Director Craig Beresford. This proactive stance predates recent suggestions from parliamentarians for such independent scrutiny.

Beresford revealed this during the Integrity Commission's annual report press conference, addressing calls from Government Member of Parliament Matthew Samuda. Samuda had proposed that the Financial Investigations Division (FID) review statutory declarations of MPs on Parliament's Integrity Commission Oversight Committee, and suggested an independent body like the FID or auditor general examine those of Integrity Commission staff and commissioners to avoid conflicts of interest.

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We look forward to meeting the Oversight Committee.

The Integrity Commission, while reserving direct comment on Samuda's specific proposal regarding MPs, indicated its long-standing position on its own staff's declarations. "As it concerns the issue of examination of statutory declarations for our staff, we actually made a proposal since 2021 for that to be done," Beresford stated. He explained that the agency recognized the potential for a conflicted position and that the law allows for regulations on how staff declarations are handled.

This recommendation was reportedly submitted to the Joint Select Committee reviewing the Integrity Commission Act, and the agency continues to support the proposal. The commission awaits a meeting with the Oversight Committee to discuss these matters further.

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As it concerns the issue of examination of statutory declarations for our staff, we actually made a proposal since 2021 for that to be done. Because you recognise that we are facing a sort of a conflicted position.I was the director of informational complaints at the time, and I said it would be inappropriate to re-examine our own statutory declarations, and the law prescribes that we can make regulations to how we treat with statutory declarations for staff.