EDITORIAL - Publish your assets, PM

Not long after he became prime minister in the early 1990s, P.J. Patterson made public a statement of his assets and liabilities, which parliamentarians are obliged to the file with the Integrity Commission only.

Notwithstanding the scepticism and cynicism that attended his action, it was disappointing that Mr Patterson did not continue with the publication of his filings. He would not only have established a standard for political leaders, but would likely have embarrassed other parliamentarians into support for legislation to make transparent filings with the Integrity Commission.

Bruce Golding, who now leads the country, now has an opportunity to do what Mr Patterson didn't and to begin to put into motion his often declared, much-talked-about, but little-acted-upon new decency and integrity in public life.In his speech on Sunday at the public session of the annual conference of his Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Mr Golding ridiculed recent proposals by the People's National Party (PNP), which Mr Patterson used to lead, that the financial contributions to political parties be made public while its members continue to insist that "our (politicians) integrity declarations are kept in secret".

While this newspaper believes, and has argued for financial support to the parties to be transparent, we agree there is certain logic to Mr Golding's observations.

However, Mr Golding, as he hinted he might do, can use the prestige of his office, assuming that he is disinclined to flex the power of the prime ministership for this purpose, to persuade the Parliament, or at least his own members, to the transparency of which he speaks. Or, perhaps just by shaming them into it.

He can start by doing what he told his supporters he is willing to do.

"I am prepared to publish mine (income, assets and liabilities) tomorrow," he said. "I don't need any law do it because there is nothing that I own that I have anything to be concerned about."

That is good to hear. And we have no reason to doubt Mr Golding.

What the prime minister must now do is actually publish his income, assets and liability statement and do so for the rest of the time he remains in Parliament.

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