Devon Dick | Vaz should step down

Last week, prime minister (PM) Andrew Holness said concerning the revocation of Daryl Vaz’s US diplomatic visa: “Should a prime minister deny someone who legitimately deserves to be a minister that opportunity because he or she does not possess the visa of a foreign country?” (February 28). He is thinking this through. But why would it take four months?

The PM could learn from Daryl Vaz, the minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, who was decisive and said he would resign if the appeal was unsuccessful ( Gleaner November 2, 2019). Vaz appears to have a better grasp of the gravity of the revocation of a US visa than the PM. The United States is our major trading partner; major source of foreign currency; and the most powerful country in the world. Revocation of a USA visa can have serious economic implications.

Furthermore, there are ethical implications. Vaz knows that he should ‘flee the very appearance of evil’ and since a Cabinet minister carries the title ‘honourable’, then any hint of corruption has to be taken seriously. Vaz, obviously, did not want to be a problem to the government or people of Jamaica, hence his commitment to resign. Additionally, nothing has been proven in the legal courts against former ministers Andrew Wheatley and Ruel Reid, but they offered to resign because of the allegations and perception of wrongdoing.

It means that the prime minister has to determine whether the US is trying to destabilise the Holness administration. This seems far-fetched, because PM Holness supports US president Donald Trump’s policy direction on Venezuela. Furthermore, the US Ambassador to Jamaica, Donald Tapia, made the unusual announcement that there were no extradition papers for any Cabinet minister. So, the Trump administration is very supportive of the Holness administration.

Last month, the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, under whose portfolio this visa revocation falls, visited Jamaica and Vaz’s visa was not reinstated. The meetings seemed to have been unsuccessful to change the status of the revoked visa. It is becoming abundantly clear that it is not beautiful speaking why Vaz’s visa was revoked. The issue is, what action prompted this revocation? Let Vaz honour his word and resign.

Using the prime minister’s reasoning, then Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Member of Parliament James Robertson, whose visa was revoked when Bruce Golding was prime minister, should be a Cabinet minister, unless Robertson is not deserving. Or is it that Golding was operating with a higher ethical standard than Holness? Based also on the Robertson principle, and precedent, then Vaz should step down.

It is known that the US Republican Party tends to be sympathetic towards the JLP. Furthermore, PM Holness went out on a limb to support the Trump administration concerning Venezuela. Such loyalty counts for something. The US would not revoke a visa of a friendly government and its minister and his wife without just cause.

Last month, I paid a courtesy call on US Ambassador Donald Tapia to give him a copy of my book, Enduring Advocacy for a Better Jamaica, and he gave me a gift. He is a reasonable man. Tapia had the power of veto over the revocation of Vaz’s visa and he did not do it. Why? Vaz needs to do the honourable thing and step down.

By the way, whereas Phillip Paulwell did not promise to step down if the US failed to reinstate his visa, and whereas he gave reasons for the revocation as working closely with the Cuban and Venezuelan administrations, the fact that there is a cloud over his name, which can no longer be explained as youthful exuberance, he should step down as campaign chairman for the People’s National Party.

Rev Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church in St Andrew. He is author of ‘The Cross and the Machete’, and ‘Rebellion to Riot’. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.