Paula Llewellyn | Integrity Commission comments blown out of proportion

I refer to The Gleaner editorial titled ‘DPP overstepped on Integrity Commission issue’ published on July 3.

While I have always respected the right of members of the media, and the public, to give their opinion on any issue in the public domain pertaining to me and my office, I was very surprised and saddened to see my comments at the Rotaract function being referenced as me “overstepping on the Integrity Commission issue” ... and that “Ms Llewellyn ought not to be surprised if many Jamaicans perceive her, perhaps unwittingly, of having entered the fray as a partisan”. I emphatically reject those mischaracterisations.

My speech, on Saturday, June 24 to the Rotaract Club of Mandeville, revolved around the issues of leadership and the maintenance of professional standards of fairness when one wields powers that can affect the reputation or liberty of others. Unlike other agencies that operate as commissions of Parliament, the DPP operates under the Constitution and has the power to take over and discontinue any prosecution in court initiated by any agency, which does not have the ingredients of a discernible offence and contravenes the public interest.

NEVER BEEN MY STYLE

For clarity, let me state that it has never been my style as DPP to indulge in personalities, pettiness and partisanship when I am conducting the business of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). I did not single out any agency and referred to several agencies in my speech, e.g. INDECOM, law enforcement, the Integrity Commission, and the Auditor General’s Department. I did not make any commentary on any case or matter that has been referred to me by any of these agencies, as that would have been inappropriate, and this would have been revealed by a cursory examination of my speech. I sought only to share my experience as DPP in commending the importance of maintaining fair decision­-making and one’s processes as an agency as a means of maintaining one’s credibility in the eyes of the public whom we serve. We are, after all, in a world where social media has glorified alternative truths and misinformation, and it has elevated perception over reality, which can undermine effectiveness unless the agencies’ processes adhere to principles of fairness. This is something that I think of every day as I and my 55 Crown Counsel conduct a multiplicity of tasks within our remit, including the prosecution of cases of allegations of corruption; the R v Jennifer Messado; R vs Ruel Reid et al, the SSL fraud case, the INSPORTS fraud case, the Manchester Parish Council case, the NESOL .fraud case (Lawrence Pommels et al) to name a few. It is my view that as far as possible, similar standard should be maintained in respect of decision-making, though most of the other agencies do not have a constitutional remit, so that the public interest and belief in the ethical underpinning of the general prosecutorial architecture which involves different agencies are enhanced.

FRIENDLY ADVICE

As a humble prosecutor who has always believed in “service above self”,a perusal of the content of my speech would reveal that my words were meant only as friendly advice and were no different from the advice that I and my officers have given in presentations to law enforcement agencies. This has in no way prevented us from considering case files that the same law enforcement agencies have referred to us in the spirit of impartiality, objectivity, and the legal principles that oblige us to be fair and to follow legal precedent. It is indeed unfortunate that the editor, perhaps because of the juxtaposition of the unfortunate issues that have surrounded the Integrity Commission and certain members of parliament in recent times, has somehow sought to artificially join my well-meant comments on leadership within the context of being partisan. It is sad that we cannot in this ‘scorched-earth culture’ avoid a situation where unwittingly, some would seek to shoot or assassinate the messenger or her character by labelling that messenger as being political or partisan simply because they may not like the message, which is only about the need for fairness when wielding power. I would invite The Gleaner to make available my speech in full so that the tone and tenor or the positive message on leadership that I had conveyed to the fantastic young people at Rotaract could be properly contextualised and made available to the public for them to be the judge of what was said.

I stand on my record as a public servant and prosecutor who has always exemplified impartiality, professionalism, mentorship, and very hard work in the public interest. Throughout my life, I have always believed and remain a fervent believer that “humility is the underbelly of success” and “your reputation is your greatest non-depreciating asset”.

Paula Llewellyn is the director of public prosecutions. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com