Morgan chided for dismissing criticisms over Speaker's reprimand letter to former House Clerk

 

The parliamentary opposition has accused Information Minister Robert Morgan of being arrogant and crass in his response to media queries regarding the public letter of reprimand issued by the Speaker of the House Juliet Holness to former Parliamentary Clerk Valrie Curtis.

 

Speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday, Mr. Morgan described calls from critics as immaterial.

 

He was asked for a response from the government to calls for the House Speaker to retract the reprimand letter to Ms. Curtis.

 

"The only thing I will say to you is that murders are down 14%. We're not talking about that this morning. Hundreds of lives have been saved since it start of this year. We're not talking about that this morning. What we're talking about is something that is immaterial in the grand scheme of things. And I think we need to start focusing on the things that are important to the people of Jamaica. 

 

"When I go to North Central Clarendon, Minister, nobody's asking me about a letter to the Speaker. They're asking, how we going to get more water? How we going to fix some 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 for the things that are so important to the daily lives of the people of Jamaica," he asserted. 

 

In response, Shadow Minister of Information Nekeisha Burchell said Mr. Morgan's dismissive attitude is symptomatic of a government that has lost its way in serving the people.

 

She said the Information Minister is crudely resisting accountability and dismissing legitimate criticisms about a matter which exposes a worrying tendency of misuse of power in the country. 

 

"That pattern of abuse was exacerbated yesterday in Parliament when the government used its control of the House to bar the opposition from raising the issue there. The government's refusal to answer the criticisms in this matter demonstrates blatant disregard for accountability and transparency and is the antithesis of responsible governance," she contended, adding that the situation highlights the government's arrogance and disregard for the Jamaican people. 

 

Ms. Burchell noted that the former House Clerk dedicated decades of her life in service to Jamaica and does not deserve to be "unjustly vilified". 

 

She wants the House Speaker to withdraw her letter of reprimand to Ms. Curtis and to issue a public apology.