PNP A QUESTION HOLNESS’ INTEGRITY

Construction of House
There are a number of questions that we would wish to have answered in relation to the property in Beverly Hills, St. Andrew, on which Andrew and Juliet Holness are constructing a house.
The PNP has nothing against anyone constructing and owning a big house. However, when you offer yourself to become Prime Minister there is a duty to be completely open and transparent when questions are being raised about assets owned by that person. This is an issue of integrity. This is our only interest.
We, therefore, demand answers to the following:
Was the land on which the house is being constructed bought by him, for US$300,00.00 in 2011?
How was this purchase and the construction of the house financed, recognizing that there is no mortgage registered on the title?
Was the land bought by a company registered in St. Lucia?
Is he, or was he ever, a director of that company?
Who are, or were, the other directors and shareholders of the company?
Is he still an active shareholder/director of the company?
Is he, or has ever been in receipt of a salary, dividends, shares, bonus or any other perks from, or as a result of business done with, or by this company?
Was the source of funds for the purchase of the land, and the cost of building the house included in any integrity report which all public officials are required to submit annually?
If the answer to question 8 is yes, when was this done, and is Holness prepared to authorize the Integrity Commission to release the relevant information?
We note that Holness has promised to make a public declaration of his finances by the end of March 2016. This is after the elections. We call on Holness to make such declarations no later than seven days before the elections.
Constitution Matters
Holness is yet to respond to the findings of the Supreme Court regarding his breach of the Constitution as it relates to pre-signed letters by two JLP senators. This is a matter of integrity.
The country will recall that the Court declared and ordered the following:
That the request for and procurement of pre-signed and undated letters of resignation by the Leader of the Opposition from persons to be appointed as Senators to the Senate of Jamaica upon his nomination, is inconsistent with the Constitution, contrary to public policy, unlawful and is, accordingly, null and void.
That the pre-signed and undated letter of resignation and letter of authorization, as well as the manner of their uses to effect the resignation of Senators…from the Senate of Jamaica, are inconsistent with the Constitution, contrary to public policy and are, accordingly, null and void.
Let us not forget that a very senior member of the JLP, Delroy Chuck, in light of the Order of the Court, correctly stated the following:
“In the Westminster System of Government, any constitutional office holder – be it Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Speaker of the House, Chief Justice, or others – who the Court rules or declares to act unlawfully and unconstitutionally would be obliged, in all good conscience and honour, to tender his or her resignation, unless there are good and compelling reasons not to do so.” – Delroy Chuck
Holness has not provided any “good and compelling reasons” to do so.
Conviction in Qatar
We also recall Holness’ meeting in Jamaica last year, with a Jamaican who was arrested, tried and convicted for sexually molesting a minor in Qatar.
The issue of child abuse is a very serious matter. That is why we introduced the Child Care and Protection Act.
To date, Holness is yet to explain to the country, why he took the decision to meet formally with that person. This is a matter of integrity.
Unquestioned Integrity
Speaking at the JLP rally in Sam Sharpe Square, on February 7, 2016, Holness declared that, if elected, he intends to put in further measures to ensure that only “members of unquestioned integrity” sit in Parliament. The PNP fully supports this position.
The question which Holness needs to answer, is whether or not, based on the issues we have raised regarding his own integrity, he is of “unquestioned integrity” to sit in Parliament?
Based on the issues we have raised, the PNP is not prepared to enter into any dialogue with the Jamaica Labour Party unless its Leader, Andrew Holness, fully and comprehensively respond to all the issues and questions we have raised.
Regards,
TeamPNP