JAMAICA | Opposition Demands Chuck’s Resignation Over "Assault" On Integrity Commission

KINGSTON, Jamaica, January 17, 2025 - The People's National Party (PNP) has launched a blistering attack on Justice Minister Delroy Chuck, demanding his immediate resignation following what they describe as an "open assault" on Jamaica's premier anti-corruption watchdog.

In a scathing rebuke delivered Wednesday, Opposition Spokesperson on Justice Senator Donna Scott-Mottley condemned Chuck's recent advice to parliamentarians to withhold legally mandated spousal financial information from the Integrity Commission (IC), characterizing it as a direct threat to the nation's democratic foundations.

"The Minister of Justice has demonstrated both a shocking ignorance of the law and a brazen willingness to encourage others to break it," Scott-Mottley declared, noting that this latest controversy marks the most egregious in a series of similar contentious statements from the Justice Minister.

The Opposition Spokesperson, herself a distinguished legal practitioner, took particular aim at Chuck's status as a King's Counsel, suggesting his statements represented a stunning betrayal of his role as the nation's chief steward of justice.

"Such disgraceful conduct strikes at the very heart of our legal system," Scott-Mottley asserted. "When the Minister of Justice himself advocates for circumventing the law, it sends a dangerous message that our legislative framework is merely a set of suggestions to be ignored at convenience."

The PNP's criticism extended beyond Chuck's immediate statements, painting them as part of a broader pattern of governmental disregard for institutional independence. Scott-Mottley dismissed Chuck's attempted justification based on spousal reluctance, characterizing it as further evidence of his fundamental misunderstanding of the law he is sworn to uphold.

In an escalation of political pressure, the Opposition has called on Prime Minister Andrew Holness to take immediate action, warning that failure to demand Chuck's resignation would be interpreted as tacit approval of what they term "lawless behavior."

"Our democracy stands at a crossroads," Scott-Mottley concluded. "The choice before the Prime Minister is clear: either stand with those who would undermine our institutions for political convenience, or defend the principles of accountability and transparency that our people deserve."

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