PNP, Gov’t Trade Hypocrisy Allegations Over Proposed Appointment of IC Director

The opposition People’s National Party, PNP, says it strongly condemns what it calls the glaring hypocrisy in the position taken by government parliamentarians on the appointment of Roneiph Lawrence as acting-director of corruption prosecution at the Integrity Commission.

Lawrence has been described by PNP general secretary, Dr. Dayton Campbell, as a friend for more than 20 years.

Last Friday, the leader of government business in the house, Edmund Bartlett and the leader of government business in the senate, Kamina Johnson Smith, wrote to the chairman of the Integrity Commission, retired Justice Carol Lawrence Beswick, to register their serious concern at Lawrence’s appointment.

But the PNP issued a statement on Sunday, criticising what they say amounts to a political witch hunt. The PNP says given Jamaica’s population, social and professional associations with persons who are active in national politics are inevitable.

It says those commonplace connections are innocuous and are not, in and of themselves, indicators of political bias. Nor do they disqualify anyone from public service.

The PNP says there’s no claim of misconduct or bias against Roneiph Lawrence. Yet his appointment is being attacked because someone who attended his wedding is affiliated with the PNP.

It pointed to the marriage of the minister in charge of water, Matthew Samuda, and a senior executive at the Jamaica Observer newspaper as evidence of the government’s hypocrisy.

It also mentioned the senior position occupied by a friend of the Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness at the Housing Agency of Jamaica and at the Urban Development Corporation.

The PNP also stated that the wife of the prime minister, “serves as Speaker of the House while presiding over matters related to the Integrity Commission”.

Meanwhile, government senator, Marlon Morgan, is slamming criticism by the PNP of concerns regarding Roneiph Lawrence’s appointment as another example of the PNP’s hypocrisy, deception and convenient changing of principles.

Senator Morgan says the position taken by Bartlett and Johnson Smith, on behalf of government members, is credible and should be supported by all well-thinking Jamaicans.

He says it is irresponsible of the PNP not to acknowledge that the sensitivity and authority of the particular position of acting-director of corruption prosecution, is one which must be viewed with particular objectivity.

He says it is also important to note the concerns about Lawrence’s appointment were not raised in a vacuum.

He notes that the concerns were also raised in the context of reports which indicate that a former corruption prosecution cirector, who is of sound professional repute, ‘came under undue pressure’ following a lawful decision she made.

Her contract was subsequently not renewed.

And reports that a former senior investigator resigned from the commission, after a statement she gave which questioned the ethics of the approach taken by the commission to an investigation, was excluded from a report submitted to Parliament and efforts made to have her retract.

The senator says the PNP media release confirms that the Mark Golding-led party will continue to take positions based on what is politically expedient at any given moment.

Senator Marlon Morgan.

And public commentator Carol Narcisse says it’s difficult to expect that the holders of certain public offices will not have close relationships with people active on the political front.

She says there’s nothing to suggest Roneiph Lawrence will be less than professional as he carries out his duties.

Carol Narcisse, public commentator.

Meanwhile political commentator Germaine Barrett is concerned with what he describes as the “optics” of Mr Lawrence’s appointment.

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He wants the Government and the Opposition to agree on the establishment of clear guidelines for certain appointments at the IC and other public institutions.

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Germaine Barrett, political commentator.