Accountant General and other public offices

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I vividly recall one of my high school fifth form literature lessons where we explored the compound verbs ‘has been’ and ‘had been’ which are both perfect forms of the irregular verb ‘to be’. Our literature teacher, Peter Maxwell of blessed memory, took the time to explain and illustrate the use of these and other compound verbs.

While watching the deliberations of the Integrity Commission Oversight Committee on YouTube, I looked up Section 120 of the Jamaican Constitution pertaining to the contentious issue of the Accountant General being a member of the Integrity Commission.

Section 120(3] states: “A person who has held the office of Auditor General shall not be eligible for appointment to any other public office.” Herein we have the compound verb ‘has held’. My recollection of Mr Maxwell’s lesson is that the verb ‘has’ in front of another verb denotes the present perfect tense meaning something that happened in the past which continues in the present.

If my recollection holds true, then the argument that the person that presently holds the office of Accountant General is constitutionally barred from serving on any public body is sound.

Perhaps there is an expert in linguistics that will tear my layman’s reasoning to shreds or there may exist a higher court ruling that has established a precedent which is of a contrary view. Until we are so enlightened, I agree with the view that, given the language of section 120(3) of Jamaica’s Constitution, it is unconstitutional for any person that continues to hold the office of Accountant General to be appointed a commissioner of the Integrity Commission, which is a public body. Kudos to MP Everald Warmington for bringing this to our attention.

ALWYN GREGORY

Manchester