Paulwell voluntarily discloses financial dealings
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Leader of Opposition Business in the House, Phillip Paulwell has voluntarily published his integrity report as “an expression of his commitment to the principles of good governance, transparency, and personal integrity”.
A newly introduced policy mandates the prime minister, the minister of finance, the leader of the Opposition and the Opposition spokesman on finance to reveal their finances to the public as reflected in their integrity fillings.Paulwell however, proposed that the leaders of Government and Opposition business in the House should do likewise.“Consistent with that considered position, I am now making my declarations public following the sanction and cooperation of the Chairman of the Integrity Commission who has provided me with certified copies of all my returns along with all communications between the Commission and myself since I entered Parliament in 1995 to the present,” Paulwell said.He also said, as further assurance, “Thereafter, I will publish the documents covering these 22 years and all subsequent declarations. The documents have been published on my Facebook @PhillipPaulwell leader of opposition business, to allow for easy access by the public. I have only redacted the names of beneficiaries, personal addresses and account numbers.”Emphasising the significance of the reform to the maintenance and preservation of democracy and good governance, he urged the House to amend the Integrity Commission Act “post-haste”.The former minister also expressed the view that this measure, will help to improve the trust between parliamentarians and citizenry.