No governance crisis, says Spence

 

Political commentator Dr. Nadeen Spence says the country is not facing a governance crisis, in a divergent view to the Advocates Network. 

 

In a statement Monday, the Advocates Network said the controversial appointment of Dennis Chung as the Chief Technical Director of the Financial Investigations Division (FID) highlights a broader problem of governance in Jamaica, marked by the centralisation of power in the Prime Minister's office with no clear oversight. 

 

The group said the move toward constitutional reform must include adequate parliamentary oversight over executive actions, which will limit the probability that the findings of reports of the FID and other such reports can be suppressed by the executive. 

 

But Dr. Spence has rubbished this argument, suggesting that the two issues are not linked. She went further, saying that the country's parliamentary system has been effective.

 

"I think we are a people operating within a democracy and a political system that is working very well and we can just look to our neighbours up north and see what is happening there. Right? And the fact that our Prime Minister has been investigated, the fact that the matter related to him has been referred to the Parliament and been open to the people for public discussion. The fact that at this time we are having this discussion is testament to the fact that our system works," she reasoned.

 

Dr. Spence said matters related to the effectiveness and efficiency of the public service are to be dealt with during phase three of the constitutional reform process.