JFJ urges Greg Christie to withdraw "inflammatory" comment

 

Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) says the comments by Executive Director of the Integrity Commission Greg Christie on Thursday, seemingly blaming the government for the attack on Director of Corruption Prevention Ryan Evans, were inflammatory and potentially dangerous.

 

JFJ Executive Director Mickel Jackson says the comments should be withdrawn through an official channel. 

 

"At the time, there was no evidence to suggest that the government or any its official could have been blamed for the unfortunate incident that Mr. Evans was subjected to. It is with that in mind that we're calling for Mr. Christie and certainly an official statement, not a tweet, but an official statement that acknowledges that the comments made by Mr. Christie...are in fact dangerous and it could have been perceived in a way that maybe it was not intended to be."

 

Ms. Jackson argued that such an acknowledgement is critical for public trust to be maintained in the Integrity Commission. 

 

She noted that the JFJ is not demanding the resignation of Mr. Christie, but finds his statement unfortunate, at a time when the country should be rallying around Mr. Evans' recovery. 

 

Mr. Evans was hospitalised after he was shot and wounded in the car park at the offices of the Commission in New Kingston on Thursday morning.

 

He was shot in the arm and a briefcase in his possession was stolen by his attackers.

 

When Integrity Commission head Greg Christie was asked for his thoughts following the shooting Thursday, he retorted: "You should ask the government that." 

 

Mr. Christie argued that officials of the public body have been the subject of increasing threats due to the constant criticism of the Commission by government ministers.

 

But in a post made to X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday evening, the Commission clarified that neither it nor its executive director is conveying any blame on the government for the incident.

 

The public body further explained that security issues have been plaguing the Commission which have been brought to the attention of the government.

 

The post said the Commission is withholding further comments on the matter as it is under police investigation.

 

The police have dismissed speculation that the shooting of Mr. Evans was part of a pre-mediated attack on officials of the agency.

 

They say preliminary information suggests the motive was robbery, as his attackers made off with a large sum of cash he had just withdrawn from a financial institution.

 

In the meantime, Mr. Jackson said the threats of harm against members of the Integrity Commission, as was disclosed by Mr. Christie, must be taken seriously. 

 

"They must be under great threat because death threats have been put forward to its membership and it is something as a country we should be mindful of, and in that regard, we should be standing with the Integrity Commission and its officers."