October 1, 2026

Integrity Commission: Councillor Ian Bell breached conflict-of-interest standards in relation to approval process for wife’s business; PNP says it takes IC findings seriously

The Integrity Commission has found that Councillor for the Beecher Town division of the St. Ann Municipal Corporation, Ian Bell, breached the standards of conflict-of-interest management expected of elected officials in relation to the setting up of a commercial business by his wife at the Ocho Rios Transport Centre three years ago.

The report was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday.

The Commission said it launched a probe into allegations of conflict of interest and irregularities in the approval processes governing the rental/lease of government property and the construction of a commercial building at the Ocho Rios Transportation Centre, St. Ann.

The IC says the investigation confirms that Mrs. Shirlyn Campbell-Bell, wife of Ian Bell, councillor for the Beecher Town division of the St. Ann Municipal Corporation, constructed and has operated a commercial building at the Ocho Rios Transportation Centre without the necessary building and planning permits, in breach of section 17 of the Building Act.

The investigation further found that the application for the underlying space was not submitted through the corporation’s registry department in accordance with the established process, and that Mrs. Campbell-Bell’s married name was omitted from the application.

The investigation also confirms that Councillor Bell, a member of the Commercial Services Committee that considered his wife’s application, attended the committee’s deliberations on the matter without withdrawing or recusing himself, notwithstanding his direct personal interest in the outcome.

The Director of Investigations found that this conduct breached the standards of conflict-of-interest management expected of elected officials under the Ministry of Local Government’s Councillor’s Handbook.

The investigation additionally identified procedural failures on the part of the corporation, including the issuance of correspondence that conveyed final approval to the applicant before the requisite process had been completed, the absence of any referral to the Ministry of Local Government for the Minister’s approval of the underlying lease, and a sustained failure to collect the applicable user fees from the business since its establishment in 2023.

Meantime, the People’s National Party has expressed hope that Councillor Ian Bell will learn from the errors identified in the Integrity Commission report.

The Commission’s report, which was tabled in Parliament, outlines that a probe was launched into reported irregularities in the approval processes by the St. Ann Municipal Corporation when Bell’s wife set up a gaming shop at the bus park, and that Bell participated in the committee that deliberated on the matter.

In a statement, the PNP said it has taken note of the Commission’s report on the approval process for the rental of space and construction of a commercial building at the Ocho Rios Transportation Centre.

The party noted the breach of good governance and said it takes the findings seriously.

The PNP said it is a long-held standard in the party that elected and non-elected officials must declare personal interests and remove themselves from any consideration of, or decision on, a matter in which a conflict of interest, real or perceived, could arise.

It said although Councillor Bell maintains that he disclosed to the full committee that the applicant was his wife and that he took no part in the deliberations, he should have recused himself and ought not to have been in attendance.

The party said it recognises that the Commission made no referral for criminal prosecution, but this does not lessen the importance of the standard that was not met.

The PNP said it accepts the Commission’s findings on this matter and also supports the recommendations.

It said Councillor Bell has given many years of dedicated service as an elected local government representative, and the party is confident that he will learn from the errors identified in this report.

The PNP said the record does not excuse what happened, and the lesson is one which ought to guide every elected representative who may face a conflict of interest in the course of their duties.

It said integrity in public office is a standard the PNP holds itself to, not only others.