KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) : PM Holness says INDECOM should operate with balance

Andrew Holness

Thursday, February 01, 2018 

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Prime Minister Andrew Holness, has said lawmakers would be taking steps to ensure that the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) carries out its duties with “balance”.

“We take the view that there really needs to be balance in how INDECOM operates... . I think this House which created the institution still retains the power. At some point, and I suspect it would have to be sooner than later, we will have to take some decisions to ensure that that very important institution operates with balance,” he said.

He was responding to concerns raised by Leader of the Opposition, Dr Peter Phillips, in relation to the disarming of the police by the oversight body.

The prime minister was speaking in the House of Representatives on January 30.  During the sitting, all 51 members of the House who were present voted in favour of the Emergency Powers (Continuance) Resolution 2018, which will extend the state of public emergency in the parish of St James until May 2. The state of public emergency was declared on January 18. more