Let Ms Porteous take her oath

Last October, this newspaper expressed its unease that Sally Porteous was heading straight from her role as a Jamaica Labour Party local government councillor to the position of custos for the parish of Manchester.

But we noted that this kind of movement was not unprecedented, as in the case of Carl Rattray going from Michael Manley's Cabinet to the presidency of the Court of Appeal to serve with great distinction. And as others have noted in this newspaper, Ms Porteous will not have been the first former politician to have become a custos.

We have heard the protest of the justices of the peace, who have been agitating against her appointment. There is, however, no compelling argument against her competence, integrity or capacity to do the job. Nor have the critics advanced any new principles for such appointments.

The governor general should, therefore, no longer delay swearing in Ms Porteous. What matters now is how she performs.

If she exercises partisanship, or in any way breaches or abuses the principles and tenets of the office, we would join any effort to hound her out.

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