Morgan dismisses critics of Holness' ex-clerk reprimand, withholding of AG opinion

Information Minister Robert Morgan has described as “immaterial”, public debate over whether House Speaker Juliet Holness should withdraw a letter of reprimand she wrote to former Clerk to the Houses of Parliament, Valrie Curtis, last month. 

Morgan has also brushed aside questions over whether Holness should release the attorney general's opinion on the treatment of reports from the country's anti-corruption agencies. 

In a letter dated March 22, Holness accused Curtis of  “gross dereliction of duty” and bringing Parliament into disrepute over the handling of reports submitted by the Auditor General's Department. 

Holness' actions have been condemned by unions, civil society groups and the Opposition People's National Party, for alleged breach of due process. 

Addressing journalists at a post-Cabinet press briefing Wednesday morning, Morgan said such matters are not of great concern to the masses. 

“When I go to North Central Clarendon (his constituency), nobody's asking me about a letter to the speaker, they're asking when we gonna get more water…roads-will we get more vehicles for the police station? And I think we do a disservice to the people of Jamaica to allow others to distract us from holding the Government accountable to the things that are so important to the daily lives of the people of Jamaica,” he said. 

Curtis retired on April 6 and yesterday Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the House will pay tribute to her later on. 

Meanwhile, Morgan was also questioned on whether in light of public concerns, the Government would encourage Holness to release the attorney general's opinion on how reports from the Integrity Commission and the Auditor General's Department should be treated. 

Morgan said it was “challenging" for him to comment on the matter, citing the separation of powers between the executive and legislative arms of government. 

“Though I may offer an observatory opinion as a member of parliament, it's very challenging for me to speak deeply on a matter relating to the administration and management of Parliament, as we are constantly accused by others of over stepping our limit and commenting on matters and merging the executive and the cabinet,” he said. 

Those comments appear to be in contrast to his remarks in the House of Representatives in November last year when he, along with Justice Minister Delroy Chuck, insisted Holness does not have to share the AG's opinion with parliamentarians in response to the requests from Opposition members. 

Morgan argued that Holness is under no obligation to share the “opinion of the attorney general to the Government with the Opposition”. 

“You may do it because of your good nature but you have no such obligation," he said at the time. 

At the time, Opposition spokesman on Finance, Julian Robinson highlighted that former Speaker Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert sought the AG's opinion because there was a dispute about how reports to the House should be dealt with, and not in her private capacity. 

- Sashana Small 

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