BOOTING BRIBERY
JFJ, Thwaites support NIA’s push for laws to combat political patronage
Published:Friday | January 17, 2025 | 12:10 AMTanesha Mundle/Staff Reporter
Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) is urgently calling for People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding to pointedly address claims by his party’s former caretaker for Kingston Central, Lawrence Rowe, that state appointments were among offers being negotiated for him to withdraw his candidacy.
“While JFJ refrains from commenting on specific political matters, the implications of the recent allegations are grave. They raise critical questions about the processes underpinning public appointments and the potential erosion of trust in our governance structures,” said JFJ’s executive director, Mickel Jackson.
“We urge the leader of the Opposition to take these concerns seriously and address the allegations concerning Senate and board appointments with transparency and forthrightness. It is essential that all appointments, whether made by the prime minister or the leader of the Opposition, adhere to the principles enshrined in our Constitution – principles that demand merit-based selection to ensure that only the most qualified individuals serve in our legislative bodies,” she added.
Jackson further noted that deviation from the meritocratic approach not only jeopardises the integrity of the country’s governance system but also undermines the fundamental tenets of good governance.
JFJ’s appeal comes in the wake of a statement from National Integrity Action (NIA) in which it indicated that the allegations highlight the need for anti-bribery legislation in Jamaica.
Rowe, who resigned from the party yesterday after he was replaced by retired Senior Superintendent of Police Steve McGregor on Sunday, had made social media posts suggesting that he was forced out amid a breakdown in negotiations involving a promised $15 million in resources, a board appointment to a state housing agency, and a seat in the Senate.
‘Spurious allegations’
The party, in a subsequent response, failed to address the full range of allegations.
“The People’s National Party notes with concern the spurious allegations relating to monetary offers being circulated by a former candidate, sections of the media, and the Jamaica Labour Party,” the PNP said in a statement.
It added: “While such claims may spark political intrigue for some, they contradict the party’s long-standing policies and practices.”
In a statement yesterday, however, NIA said the situation underscored the importance of implementing robust anti-corruption measures to ensure transparency and integrity in the country’s political system.
“If these statements are factual, the offer to Rowe would continue, instead of reject, one of the most damaging features of Jamaica’s politics and governance,” NIA said.
The organisation highlighted that positions of authority in ministries, departments and agencies and on the boards of public bodies are often given as rewards for party loyalty or contributions to election campaigns.
It said the 2021 passage of regulations under the Public Bodies Management and Accountability Act now obligates political administrations to make appointments to public bodies primarily based on competence and not partisan considerations.
Similarly, the organisation stated, the appointment of persons to the Senate should not have, as a primary consideration, failure to win or be nominated for a seat in the House of Representatives as has often been the case in the past.
“National Integrity Action believes that such allegations affect public trust in the political system. Allegations of bribery and corruption erode this trust, making it imperative to implement and enforce anti-bribery laws. Ensuring appointments are based on merit rather than political loyalty will help restore confidence in public institutions and promote good governance,” NIA said.
Additionally, NIA said that “these claims underscore the urgent need to strengthen the Integrity Commission (IC)”, while urging persons with information on the Rowe allegations to report to the IC.
JFJ also supported the call for enactment of the anti-bribery law.
“We support the National Integrity Action in advocating for the implementation of an anti-bribery act akin to the measures in place in the United Kingdom,” Jackson said.
She recalled that JFJ raised similar concerns at the Joint Select Committee reviewing the Integrity Commission Act, noting that “such legislation is critical in safeguarding our democracy against corruption and ensuring that our public institutions operate with the highest standards of integrity”.
The Reverend Ronald Thwaites, a former education minister and former PNP member of parliament for Kingston Central, also endorsed the call for anti-bribery laws.
“The objective situation, of so many allegations over a long time in so many areas of national life, would suggest that the scourge needs regulation. I am not sure how the act would be framed, but the principle of setting a standard against bribery is certainly something I support,” Thwaites told The Gleaner.
While noting that the country’s legislators are not very disposed towards social legislation, Thwaites emphasised that an anti-bribery law would help improve public trust, which is currently at a very low level.