Holness stands by Wheatley despite Integrity Commission report recommending criminal charges

Jamaican Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness says he continues to have confidence in Cabinet Minister Dr. Andrew Wheatley despite an Integrity Commission report recommending that he face four criminal charges, including illicit enrichment involving approximately J$164 million in alleged unexplained wealth.

“Dr. Wheatley retains my confidence in the work that he has been doing in the Office of the Prime Minister, particularly AI and cyber, and these other areas,” Holness said during an interview with Cliff Hughes on Nationwide Radio on Monday.

Holness’ comments come amid growing calls for Wheatley to resign from Cabinet after the Integrity Commission recommended criminal charges, alleging he accumulated about J$164 million in unexplained wealth between 2013 and 2022. Wheatley, who serves as minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for science, technology and special projects, has rejected the commission’s findings, describing them as “patently false, grossly misleading and inaccurate.”

While expressing confidence in the minister, Holness acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations.

“The charges that are suggested or recommended are serious charges,” he said. “Now, the challenge, of course, is that no charge has yet been preferred on him. So, until that point, we will observe the situation.”

The prime minister said he has only briefly reviewed the commission’s 89-page report, which was tabled in the House of Representatives last Wednesday, and intends to receive legal briefings before reaching any conclusions.

“I have read the report, briefly. I haven’t had a chance to go through it. I do intend to be briefed by the attorneys as to exactly what is stated,” Holness said, clarifying that he was referring to attorneys representing the parties involved.

Holness also said he planned to discuss the matter directly with Wheatley during Monday’s Cabinet meeting.

“We will have a fulsome discussion with him directly on the report and what to expect in the future,” he said.

Addressing criticism over Wheatley’s return to Cabinet, Holness said he intentionally did not reappoint the former energy minister after the 2020 general election because issues stemming from the controversy at the state-owned Petrojam refinery had not yet been resolved.

“After the 2020 election, I did not reappoint him because those matters were not yet resolved,” Holness said. “Those matters were since resolved and therefore he was cleared to be reappointed.”

Holness added that he was unaware the Integrity Commission was investigating Wheatley when he reappointed him in 2025.

“I was totally unaware of any report or any investigation,” he said.

The Integrity Commission’s report, released alongside a ruling from the director of corruption prosecution recommending charges, alleges Wheatley made false statements in statutory declarations covering the periods 2013-2017 and 2018-2022, failed to provide information requested by investigators, and omitted information relating to loans, investments and property holdings. The report also referred possible tax compliance issues to the commissioner general of Tax Administration Jamaica.

Wheatley has maintained that investigators failed to account for approximately J$168 million in rental income that he said was lawfully earned and declared, as well as about J$50 million in loan repayments related to his real estate business.

The report has prompted renewed calls for Wheatley’s removal from Cabinet. The Opposition People’s National Party, Jamaicans for Justice and the Jamaica Council of Churches are among the groups urging Holness to dismiss the minister.

“The minister who has been recommended for prosecution on four criminal charges, including the serious offence of illicit enrichment, cannot be allowed to remain in the Cabinet of Jamaica,” Opposition Leader Mark Golding said.

caribbeannationalweekly.com