No to any PNP affiliated lawyers prosecuting the Ruel Reid corruption trial

Over the years we have sat idly by and watch the PNP call for commission of enquiries, investigations and prosecution and then watch in awe as they insert their lawyers into the process, then walking away with millions of dollars in tax payers money.

We note recent comments made by the FID Director indicating his intention to by pass the fully staffed and well equipped DPP office and seek a fait to get a “private prosecutor” for the Ruel Reid case.

The FID can in fact do this as stated by the DPP, but I have a very serious concern about going down this path. Is the FID about securing conviction or ensuring a fair trial, that is a question he will need to answer.

My bigger question however is one of cost and don’t come tell me that cost should be of no consequence that is a lot of BS right there.

We saw in the Mannatt case lawyer fees ranging from US$250 ( J $34,350) to US$500 (J$68,500) per hour . Using the Kern Spencer case as proxy, this case lasted about 4 years and would have consumed at least 500 hrs of court time.

Now FID would most likely employ at least two lawyers one to lead and a second with fees say average fees of say US$350 per hr x 500 x 2 which give a whopping figure of just lawyers fees of J$48M !

We the public will NOT sit by and allow tax payers money to be paid to any PNP affiliated lawyers, when we have a fully competent DPP office which is well capable of prosecuting this case.

This is not about eating a food, we have had enough of that, this is about ensuring that justice is served and chips fall where they may

#VigilanceFromThePublic

#NoMoreEatABigFood

Any group that wants to make others accountable, must subject themselves to public scrutiny

There is a group called Jamaica Accountability Metre Portal (JAMP) who claims that their mission is to hold public figures to account and ensure no more 9 day wonders. The group is inviting all to its public launch on October 16, 2019.

What is interesting is I knew they have been around for at least 4 years but now finally has decided to be launched officially.

I am all for accountability in the public office , let me state that for the record and as such anything to hold public officials to account must be encouraged.

The problem I have is when certain organizations outside of the Police, MOCA, The Integrity Commission, the Auditor General comes out shouting accountability, I tend to send up my antennas .

The main reason for the distrust of the public in these bodies, is most often the leader and their associates have a agenda, political or otherwise and use the ruse of “accountability” to push forward their personal agenda in support of one political party against the other.

If one seeks to hold public officials to account, then they themselves must be subjected to public scrutiny and as such we need JPAM to respond to the following

1. They must state their source of financing , how much and from who.
2. They must present to the public income and expense statements since they have been incorporated . We need to know if they have been accountable for the funds they have received.
3. Who are the principals and what are there background in public or private practice.
4. Can we get a list of the ordinations that they are members of and what are there roles in these organizations over the last 10 year.
5. Are they willing to share with the public a filing similar to the politicians integrity filing for the last 5 years showing their assets and liabilities.
6. Are they affiliated with or members of any political party and if so in what capacity.
7. Are they providing advise or rendering services to any of the political parties. If so state the party and the type of engagement they are involved in.
8. Have they ever been before the courts in Jamaica or any other jurisdiction for any matter than could compromise their ability to be a watch dog.
9. If the answer to 8 is yes, what was the charge and what was the outcome of the case.
10. Do they have any pending matters awaiting adjudication by the courts in Jamaica or in any other jurisdiction.

We want full transparency, no longer are we willing to accept that anyone in the Jamaican society are paragons of virtue, no more hidden agendas

#FullDisclosure