Greg Christie, Executive Director of the Integrity Commission
The Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal (JAMP) and National Integrity Action (NIA) have called for the resignation of the Integrity Commission’s Executive Director, Greg Christie.
In a statement Friday evening, JAMP said it noted with grave concern Mr. Christie's response to the media’s request for comments on the deplorable shooting of a member of the Commission on Thursday.
While it acknowledged that the shooting must have heightened the stressful work environment at the Commission, the watchdog group said it believes the comments of Mr. Christie were "highly unacceptable and irresponsible".
Noting the importance of impartiality to the work performed by the Commission and its public perception, JAMP said the executive director's comment "compromised the confidence of many Jamaicans and undermined that element of impartiality that is vital to achieving their objectives".
It said in the interest of the Commission and its anti-corruption fight, Mr. Christie should resign.
NIA, in its release, echoed similar sentiments, as it urged the Integrity Commission's executive director to "do the right thing and resign".
It pointed out that "words matter", adding that they should be uttered with careful judgment.
Unfortunately, it said, Mr. Christie's comments have raised doubts about the sound and impartial judgment of the Integrity Commission's leadership.
Full statement from JAMP:
“Integrity Commission’s Executive Director’s Position Untenable”
The Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal has noted with grave concern, the response of the Integrity Commission’s Executive Director, Mr. Greg Christie, to the media’s request for comments on the deplorable shooting incident of a member of the Commission.
We appreciate that the work the Commission does on all our behalf, can and does present considerable strain for its staff and we also appreciate that this has been further exacerbated by reported threats over time as well as a hostile commentary emanating from our Parliamentarians. Yesterday’s shooting incident could only have served to heighten their stressful working environment.
While we convey our deepest regret and sympathies for the troubling attack on the Commission’s Director, we believe that the comments of its Executive Director were highly unacceptable and irresponsible. Of particular note, is the wide variance between Mr. Christie’s comment and Commission’s official position of “no comment” pending investigation.
Impartiality, as well as the appearance of impartiality are the gold standard and currency for the very crucial work the Commission performs on our behalf. We are of the considered view that the Commission’s statement of apology on behalf of its Executive Director is an inadequate response, given the extent to which we believe Mr. Christie’s response has further compromised the confidence of many Jamaicans and undermined that element of impartiality that is vital to achieving their objectives.
In the interest of both the Integrity Commission that he has served since May 2020 and the anti-corruption cause that he has fought for over two decades, JAMP calls on Mr. Christie to submit his resignation to the Chairman of the Integrity Commission.
NIA full statement:
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE INTEGRITY COMMISSION SHOULD STEP ASIDE
NIA stands with the director of the Integrity Commission who was shot yesterday as well as with the Commission in these difficult times. We are at an infection point and the staff would be fearful, but we urge them to continue the discharge of their functions without fear or favour.
We believe words matter. The words of our leaders have the power to incite and the power to deflect anger and animosity and should always be uttered with careful judgment. Whilst we have respected the work of Mr. Greg Christie, we recognize that the institution is more important than any individual.
The position of Executive Director of the Integrity Commission is of such that it must be devoid of suspicions which may hinder it being supported by most Jamaicans. It is unfortunate that his comments have many interpretations, and this is the reason that we urge him to step aside.
Transparency often requires that leaders resign to preserve the integrity of the institutions they serve. The institution is always more important than any individual. The work of the Integrity Commission is far too important to the fight against corruption for its focus to be distracted and for the public to have any doubt about the sound and impartial judgment of its leadership.
Unfortunately, Mr. Christie’s comments raise doubts, and, in that regard, we urge him to do the right thing and resign as Executive Director.
All feeds
