Resignations and good governance !

So Sandrea  Falconer, the Government of Jamaica’s (Miss)Information Minister in trying to explain the Cabinet decision, (which really should have been the Prime Minister’s call) to keep Mr Azan in his post until the investigation was completed by the now relevant OCG , found she did not have all the information and sounded like an amateur.

She bungled along under relentless “attack” by the media before throwing in the towel and deciding NOT yes NOT to answer anymore questions on the Azan controversy.  Question, will the media  boycott the next weekly press conference ?

The Prime is so weak, that even a decision that is solely her responsibility was divested to the entire cabinet many of whom we understand are far from happy with her decision, but so far can only express that in private.

Ronnie Thwaites, I think you as a clergy man should resign forthwith, given your principled position as a clergyman and the fact that based on the “collective responsibility  process , you MUST go along with the decision at least in public. You sir are compromised and must therefore step aside otherwise we will begin to no longer trust you as a man of the cloth.

Now to the substantive point I want to make.

RECENT RESIGNATIONS

 

Raymond Notice – JLP and Former Mayor of Spanishtown

Resigned  June 2005

Offence – Spousal abuse

Comments – From the information available, it seems as if Dr. Notice did not resign of his own volition, but at the insistence of the JLP hierarchy.

Link between his job and the offense – None

Did resignation take place before or after investigations were completed : Before

Joseph Hibbert – JLP and former State Minister in the Ministry of Transport and Works

Resigned – July 13, 2009

Offense – Bribery allegations

Date of Offence – 1990’s

Position when Offense occurred – Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Transport and Works . Notice he was not a politician at this time

Comments – Mr. Hibbert’s resignation follows a meeting with Prime Minister Bruce Golding yesterday. 

In his letter of resignation, Mr. Hibbert said “in view of the allegations of bribery of Jamaican Government officials made in the UK courts by the British firm Mabey and Johnson Limited in which I am implicated, I have today decided to submit my resignation as Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport and Works to the Honourable Prime Minister”. 

Mr Hibbert said the resignation will allow him the time and freedom to clear his name and integrity as former Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Transport and Works during the 1990s based on the allegations

Link between his job and the offense – None

Note he did not awaiting the outcome of any probe and the allegations were not made in Jamaica but by a foreign agent.

Did resignation take place before or after investigations were completed : Before

Mike Henry – JLP  Minsiter of Transport and Works

Resigned –  November 29, 2011

Offense – Corruption allegations in the execution of JDIP project

Date  of Offense – 2010 – 2011

Position when offense occurred – Minister of Transport and Works

Comments – 

Henry, in a statement issued after 10:00 pm, said: “In light of the ongoing attacks on the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP), which continue despite the prime minister and I having acted to address the issue, as the line minister, I take full responsibility for the issues which have arisen, and today tendered my resignation as minister of transport and works with immediate effect.

 “There is nothing to hide about my stewardship of the JDIP, which is very important to the country, and I look forward to the conclusion of the ongoing investigations.

Note 1 : A subsequent investigation was launched at this and this was what was noted :

CAPI notes that while the audit reveals no act of corruption and illegality, it exposes gross management and governance deficiencies which must be immediately addressed in order to ensure efficient and timely implementation of the project

Note 2: The Prime Minister acted even before the outcome of the investigation was done and here was the PNP reaction at the time.

In a statement, the opposition People’s National Party called the resignation “a belated response to the scandalous conduct of the entire government in relation to the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme.”

Did resignation take place before or after investigations were completed : Before

and the Grand Finale

Bruce Golding : JLP leader and Prime Minister

Resigned :  Sept 25, 2011

Offense :  Mishandling of extradition of Christopher Coke

Date of Offense :  Sometime in 2010.

Position when offense occurred: JLP Leader and Prime Minister

Comments :

Questions about the role I played in the Coke/Manatt matter have remained a source of concern in the minds of many people. It was never about Coke’s guilt or innocence.“It was about a breach of our Constitution, and had it been a person other than Coke it perhaps would never have become the cause célèbre that it turned out to be,” he continued.

Note 1 Recommendation from Manatt enquiry report

The posts of Minister of Justice and Attorney General should be split; the Attorney General need not be a member of either House.

This was changed by was subsequently moved back to original position after the PNP was elected.

Did resignation take place before or after investigations were completed : After

Now you can judge from the above, which party based on its actions is more concerned about the principles of good governance and has taken actions in such regard to demonstrate that its serious about such matter.

More Resignations

James Robertson– JLP Minister of Mining and Energy

Resigned – May 24, 2011

Offense –  None, but we were told there was a revocation of his USA Visa.

Date of Offense:  May 20, 2011

Position when Offense occurred : Minister of  Mining and Energy

Comments :

May 24, 2011

Hon. Bruce Golding, MP
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
1 Devon Road
Kingston 10.

Dear Sir:

Following discussions with my wife Charlene and my daughters, as well as with you and my Cabinet colleagues, I have taken the decision to resign as Minister of Energy and Mining with immediate effect.

Recent events which include several unsubstantiated allegations have taken a heavy toll on my family and me. I am confident however that this matter will be resolved once given the opportunity and due process.

Under the circumstances, I believe my resignation from the Cabinet is the correct course of action at this time.

Did resignation take place before or after investigations were completed : Before

Its was alleged that he was somehow involved in a murder conspiracy but that was later dismissed.

What do we say about the PNP ?

The chorus says it all

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H2eWv62Y7I