The Integrity Commission is seeking to have former Minister of Works, Everald Warmington, removed from two parliamentary committees.

The decision follows Monday’s discussions about recent statements made by Mr. Warmington regarding withholding funds from an opposition councillor.

The Integrity Commission says during its regular monthly meeting, it decided to write to the Chairman of the Integrity Commission Parliament Oversight Committee and the Joint Select Committee for the Review of the Integrity Commission Act.

It says the letter will express the commission’s stance that the former minister should not continue to be a member of the committees.

The commission explains that this recommendation is made considering the preamble of the act which states that the act is “to promote and enhance standards of ethical conduct for parliamentarians, public officials and other persons.”

It says the former minister’s actions fall well short of standards and conduct that are becoming of a minister and parliamentarian.

Meantime, the commission says it will also write to the Speaker of the House, suggesting that the ethics committee addresses the matter.

It notes that this step is seen as essential to ensure that the issue is appropriately handled within the parliamentary framework.

The commission further explains that in line with its functions and mandate, as outlined in the integrity commission act, it also had discussions on additional steps that may be taken to address the situation. It did not disclose the additional steps.

The committee says the deliberations were aimed at upholding the commission’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and good governance within the government.

The calls for Mr. Warmington to be removed from the committees have been echoed by human rights group Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ).

While noting that Mr. Warmington’s removal from the cabinet was welcomed, JFJ’s Executive Director Mickel Jackson said it is concerning that he still sits on the parliamentary committees that oversee anti-corruption and integrity matters.

She repeated the call for Mr. Warmington to also be removed from these parliamentary committees.

Ms. Jackson is also calling on the electoral commission to act in its capacity as the political ombudsman.