Holness rejects IC report on construction breach, to seek legal advice

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has accused the Integrity Commission of targeting him and out to damage his reputation.

Holness says he has no connection to the company which the commission says breached building laws in the construction of a St Andrew apartment complex.

In a report tabled in Parliament today, the commission said Estatebridge Holdings Limited build more rooms than permitted.

It said the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation "failed" to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the building permit issued to Estatebridge

READ: Company linked to Holness and his business partner breached building law in townhouse construction: IC

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But, according to Holness, investigators at the anti-corruption body have ignored information that, among other things, the construction of the apartment complex is in structural conformity with the approved plan.

“This transparent attempt to attack my reputation will not deter me from serving Jamaica,” charged Holness.

“While commission has made no conclusions or findings about me. I have asked my lawyers review the report and advice further advice.”

Full Statement

Having read the report of the Integrity Commission, I am concerned that I am being targeted. 

Firstly, I am not a director of the Company which is the subject of the report, and I am not a shareholder in the company, nor do I own the property in question. Therefore, it is a puzzle to me why I am a subject of this report. 

I have been informed that the development has been inspected by the competent authority (KSAMC) which has confirmed that number of rooms approved are the number of rooms constructed. 

Based upon the report, it is of grave concern that the Investigators would ignore the statements given by the KSAMC which is the competent authority that they observed the development to be in structural conformity with the approved plan. It is also of concern that the Investigators ignored the statements of the persons involved that explained the works being undertaken, and went on to draw conclusions on construction work that was in progress. 

It seems more than coincidence, that this report was submitted to Parliament a few days before the delivery of judgement of the Supreme Court in a matter in which I am seeking judicial review of another report of the Commission. The fact that a statutory entity would exercise its powers in such a manner is troubling. 

This transparent attempt to attack my reputation will not deter me from serving Jamaica. While Commission has made no conclusions or findings about me. I have asked my lawyers review the report and advice further advice.