In a significant move to bolster governmental transparency, Jamaica’s House of Representatives will conduct mandatory training for all Members of Parliament on Tuesday, December 16th. Speaker Juliet Holness announced the session will commence at 10:00 AM in the parliamentary chamber, following collaborative discussions with the Integrity Commission.
The comprehensive training initiative aims to provide detailed guidance for completing statutory financial declarations, which all parliamentarians must submit by the statutory deadline of December 31st, 2025. Holness emphasized that the program is designed to strengthen compliance mechanisms and ensure every representative is thoroughly prepared to fulfill their legal obligations accurately.
‘This session will provide essential guidance for the proper completion of statutory declarations due December 31st,’ Holness stated. ‘This initiative supports transparency, strengthens compliance, and ensures all members are fully equipped to meet the requirements set before us.’
The training assumes particular importance for first-term parliamentarians who may lack previous experience with the declaration process. However, the Speaker noted that even seasoned legislators would benefit from refreshed guidance, providing ‘greater certainty regarding how we complete these declarations and conduct our reporting.’
Statutory declarations serve as critical anti-corruption instruments, requiring detailed disclosure of assets, income, liabilities, and financial interests. The Integrity Commission has consistently advocated for enhanced compliance and more precise reporting from public officials in recent years.
This training initiative emerges amid heightened public scrutiny of political accountability mechanisms across the Caribbean region. Recent corruption allegations have intensified demands for stronger oversight of elected officials, making the parliamentary session particularly timely. Holness concluded that Parliament must ‘lead by example’ in demonstrating commitment to ethical governance and financial transparency.