JLP accuses PNP of hypocrisy amid protest

 

The Jamaica Labour Party's communication task force has hit back at the People's National Party's protest against the appointment of chartered accountant Dennis Chung as Chief Technical Director of the Financial Investigations Division (FID), labelling protesters "hypocrites". 

 

Speaking at a press conference on Monday morning at the JLP's Belmont Road headquarters, Senator Marlon Morgan said the opposition party has no moral authority to accuse anyone of corruption.

 

"The PNP is corruption personified. The protest action being staged by the opposition PNP is simply aimed at spreading propaganda, besmirching the reputation of someone who has served the Jamaica with distinction over the years, whether it is in the private sector or in the public sector. By way of its protest, the PNP, at the expense of stability in the country and the people's good name and reputation, is simply seeking to energise its base and boost support for its historically corrupt party as it limps toward the impending general elections," asserted Mr. Morgan.

 

The senator and JLP spokesperson said it is ironic that the location where the protest took place is a "profound reminder of PNP corruption". He cited a Heroes Circle fencing project that which he said was "shrouded in controversy and marred by allegations of corruption".

 

In the meantime, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has raked the People's National Party over the coals for supposedly bringing the names of people who have given stellar public service to Jamaica into disrepute. 

 

Dr. Holness said these individuals have been unfairly hauled into the political arena and their integrity trampled on. He has blamed this on the PNP's "misguided" belief that it has ownership of the country. 

 

The Prime Minister said the government will not be bullied by the PNP in response to the 72-hour ultimatum for it to rescind the appointment of Dennis Chung as the new head of the FID.

 

"It's not a surprise to me because it is their DNA that they will go to any lengths to destroy people who they believe that they have no control over the institutions that they are appointed to run; any lengths, including to try to bully the government to break the rules of appointment to suit them - processes that are well established, that are not in any way questioned, but they come to give the government an ultimatum," he complained.

 

On Friday, Finance Minister Fayval Williams said that the selection of Mr. Chung was transparent and included an advertisement and interviews with oversight from the Office of the Services Commission.