Gov’t must be commended
Dear Editor,
I am disappointed in The Gleaner for publishing on Sunday, March 17 what appeared to be a one-sided article by Erica Virtue that sought to paint a negative narrative concerning several resignations and dismissals which have taken place under the current Government of Jamaica.
The article and its headline, primarily focused on political scientist and former People’s National Party Youth Organisation member Paul Bourne, described several such separations from ministerial office during eight years of the Jamaica Labour Party Administration being in office as “an ugly political record”.
Bourne has missed the mark. Citizens like me regard the development referred to as long-awaited accountability at the highest level of Government. Prime Minister Andrew Holness should be commended for being responsive in holding to account ministers who do not abide by the appropriate standards. The country demands nothing less.
I was disillusioned when during the nearly 18 years of the People’s National Party (PNP) being in office there were a raft of scandals and rarely any accountability via resignations or firings. There were at least 30 scandals under the former PNP Administration for which there were no consequences for the stewards or responsible officers either at the policy or operational level.
To highlight my point, former PNP Cabinet member Phillip
Paulwell comes to mind. Paulwell was minister when the Trafigura corruption controversy exploded. He was minister when the Cuban light bulb, bad cement, bad gas, Solutrea Limited, Energy World International (EWI) energy licence, Netserve, and Office of Utilities Regulation alleged ministerial interference debacles took centre stage.
Not once did he resign. Neither prime ministers PJ Patterson nor Portia Simpson Miller saw it fit to fire Paulwell, who was minister while at least eight scandals unfurled which concerned his assigned portfolio. This level of lack of accountability, for me, is the epitome of an ugly political record.
Brian Nunes briannunes712@yahoo.com