Advocates Network says Dennis Chung appointment highlights broader governance crisis

 

Amid public discourse over the controversial appointment of Dennis Chung as Chief Technical Director of the Financial Investigations Division (FID), the Advocates Network says the issue highlights a broader problem of governance crisis in Jamaica. 

 

According to Advocates Network, the governance crisis is marked by the centralisation of power in the Prime Minister's office and a lack of transparency and accountability highlighted by Mr. Chung's appointment.

 

Founding Director of the Institute of Law and Economics and member of the Advocates Network, Professor Rosalea Hamilton, says Jamaicans should not view the issue in isolation.

 

"It's time for us to come to grips with what is causing all of this. I mean, I think there's a lot of focus here on Dennis Chung. If we look closely at the matter, for the first time in our history, not only is there questions about the certification of the Prime Minister, but also there are eight parliamentarians who're currently being investigated and questions being asked about illicit enrichment," she pointed out.

 

Additionally, Professor Hamilton asserted that a parliamentary mechanism is needed for citizens to express their concerns on matters such as the appointment of Mr. Chung, which has sparked widespread criticism.

 

"These issues ought not to be taken to the streets. There ought to be hearings in Parliament, where all of us could have an opportunity, who want an opportunity, to have a say on these very weighty issues that face our nation. So we ought not to be demonstrating on all of these issues. We have to because there's no adequate mechanism," she reasoned.

 

Professor Hamilton was speaking on Radio Jamaica's Beyond the Headlines on Monday.

 

The People's National Party on Monday staged a protest against Mr. Chung's appointment.