THE EDITOR, Sir:I AM just as surprised as is Mr. Karl Samuda, JLP General Secretary, at the unprecedented and perhaps, unorthodox, move of Dr. Dennis Minott, to submit, to the Political Ombudsman (instead of, presumably, to the Party), his findings of investigations he conducted into the months-old allegations of electoral bribery in his party's deputy leadership polls last year.
However, I am not "vexed" with him as the JLP is reported to be. Mr. Samuda's premise for their vexation a premise that, no doubt, will be shared by perhaps a majority of Jamaicans is that this was an internal matter, and should have been handled, instead, by the party. I disagree. Before anybody crucifies (or shoots) Dr. Minott, I suggest the following two reasons I support his move.
While the affairs of the JLP are decidedly internal, are they, as a consequence, necessarily private? The two are not one and the same. (The recent crisis in the United States Roman Catholic church was internal, but not private). It is entirely conceivable that a Deputy Leader of the JLP could find him or herself acting as Prime Minister one day, or perhaps, even confirmed in that position. The electoral process, therefore, which brings a person to the office of Deputy Leader, is quite public; more so, if it is tainted or under investigation.
Second, the JLP already had its chance to investigate this matter. Recall that hardly had the doors closed after the JLP conference than the Party Leader was crying "foul", and had taken this "internal" matter to the "external" police. Recall that the political leader later declared that he was satisfied that all was "kosher", and said so to the police.
The DCP (Crime) declared, however, that the police had a responsibility to investigate the matter, despite the party leader's withdrawal. Clearly then, this matter is already public. Further, it escaped the JLP's adjudication the moment it was reported to the police! In fact, Dr. Minott, in referring the matter to the Ombudsman and not the police, is softer in his actions than his leader!
Recall, also, that according to Dr. Minott, it took all of five weeks for the secretariat to respond to this urgent matter. What is the time-line? Was the Ombudsman contacted, somewhere during that fifth week, when Dr. Minott thought he was being ignored? Admittedly, I cannot speak to Dr. Minott's motive (and I am fully aware of the risks involved when "cockroach" jumps into "cock-fight"). Unprecedented and unorthodox actions tend to be lightning rods for suspicion. If he has flouted any party law, let him be forgiven. Admittedly, I wince, vicariously for the JLP, at the thought of these findings of their internal matters being brought before Parliament.
However as uncomfortable as I am to ask it could the nation be guaranteed that the truth, which we expect to come via Parliament, would be the same truth that might have emanated from Party Headquarters? This raises, of course, the larger issue of how some in our major political parties in Jamaica continue to not "get it": We do not deny them their internal processes, but they exist to serve people who hold Jamaican passports and residency not merely those who hold party membership cards.
I am etc,
REV. MICHAEL FRIDAY
rev_manfriday@hotmail.com
38, Hoskins Rd,: Bloomfield
Connecticut, USA
Via Go-Jamaica
