Three IC directors to be sworn in this morning

Governor General Sir Patrick Allen is expected to swear in three directors of the Integrity Commission (IC) this morning.

Gleaner sources have confirmed that Craig Beresford, the former director of information and complaints is to be sworn in as executive director, while Roneiph Lawrence who acted in the position of director of corruption prosecution is to take up the post full time.

Joeth Jones-Hall, the manager for declarations at the IC is to take over the reins as director of information and complaints.

The ceremony is to take place at King’s House.

It follows a weeks-long standoff between Sir Patrick and Chairman of the IC, retired Supreme Court Judge Carol Lawrence-Beswick over the recommendations for appointment.

Earlier this month, The Gleaner reported that the IC, Jamaica’s leading anti-corruption agency, had been operating without three of its top leaders for weeks – a development that threatened to significantly undermine its ability to prevent, detect, and prosecute corruption.

At that time, the commission confirmed to The Sunday Gleaner that it had submitted recommendations to Allen for appointments to the DCP and executive director posts.

A reliable source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, had indicated that the nomination for an executive director was submitted in July while the recommendation for the new DCP was made earlier.

Under the Integrity Commission Act (ICA), the commission is allowed to make temporary acting appointments for up to three months. Accordingly, an acting DCP was appointed on June 3, 2025, and an acting executive director on May 18, 2025. However, both terms had past expiry, and the law bars extensions.

The previous DCP’s contract expired on March 31, 2025, the executive director’s on March 17, and the director of information and complaints’ on July 14. No permanent appointments were made.

Last week, Sir Patrick broke his silence on the delay in making the critical appointments, saying in a statement that he had taken note of recent public commentary concerning appointments under the ICA.

The governor general said the Integrity Commission’s recommendations for the positions of DCP and executive director, received in June and July 2025, departed from the long-established precedent guiding such appointments.

He did not disclose what the established precedent was.

The Office of the Governor General said after the IC resisted efforts to resolve the matter, the Head of State sought a formal opinion from the Attorney General’s Chambers to ensure that his actions were consistent with law and constitutional propriety.

“That opinion,” according to King’s House, was shared with the IC, which has since this week complied with the administrative precedent.

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