Dear Editor,
The continued failure of National Security Minister Peter Bunting to be forthright on the issue of Commission of Police Owen Ellington's resignation is being viewed as an affront to the interest of the Jamaican people. This is the view of civil lobby group Citizens' Action for Principle and Integrity (CAPI), who earlier called for the Government to come clean and clear on the issues that caused the seemingly sudden departure of Commissioner Ellington.
Ellington announced that he will be going on pre-retirement leave last week, suggesting that the investigation into death squad activities as well as the commission of enquiry to be held into the May 2010 Tivoli incursion have informed his decision to quit the force.
The lobby group notes that, while it appreciates the possible sensitive nature of the information involved, it is disingenuous of the minister to hide under the cloak of classified information in an obvious attempt to obfuscate the matter, this while dropping hints for the general public to decipher.
The minister must be reminded that national security and the fight against crime hinges on the buy-in of the citizenry, facilitated by an environment of transparency and candour. The culture of secrecy which characterises the Government doesn't augur well for stakeholders' buy-in.
We dismiss the suggestion that Ellington's departure was caused by concerns of human rights abuses by international partners, as the outgoing commissioner has been consistent in his efforts to remind his sub-ordinates, through force orders, of their obligation to protect the human rights of citizens. We are of the belief that the issue(s) surrounding Ellington's sudden departure goes beyond what is stated by the minister in Parliament.
CAPI argues that Bunting's statement in Parliament serves only to confuse rather than clarify, which only adds intrigue to the matter. This will no doubt fuel the rumours and speculations which abound since the commissioner's resignation, the group asserts.
Again, CAPI urges the Government to be forthright on the issues which occasioned the untimely departure of Owen Ellington without compromising any national security strategy.
Dennis Meadows & Hugh Fagan
Co-convenors
Citizens' Action for Principle and Integrity
dennis.meadows@hotmail.com
hughfagan@gmail.com
Bunting's failure to be forthright, an affront to J'cans
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The continued failure of National Security Minister Peter Bunting to be forthright on the issue of Commission of Police Owen Ellington's resignation is being viewed as an affront to the interest of the Jamaican people. This is the view of civil lobby group Citizens' Action for Principle and Integrity (CAPI), who earlier called for the Government to come clean and clear on the issues that caused the seemingly sudden departure of Commissioner Ellington.
Ellington announced that he will be going on pre-retirement leave last week, suggesting that the investigation into death squad activities as well as the commission of enquiry to be held into the May 2010 Tivoli incursion have informed his decision to quit the force.
The lobby group notes that, while it appreciates the possible sensitive nature of the information involved, it is disingenuous of the minister to hide under the cloak of classified information in an obvious attempt to obfuscate the matter, this while dropping hints for the general public to decipher.
The minister must be reminded that national security and the fight against crime hinges on the buy-in of the citizenry, facilitated by an environment of transparency and candour. The culture of secrecy which characterises the Government doesn't augur well for stakeholders' buy-in.
We dismiss the suggestion that Ellington's departure was caused by concerns of human rights abuses by international partners, as the outgoing commissioner has been consistent in his efforts to remind his sub-ordinates, through force orders, of their obligation to protect the human rights of citizens. We are of the belief that the issue(s) surrounding Ellington's sudden departure goes beyond what is stated by the minister in Parliament.
CAPI argues that Bunting's statement in Parliament serves only to confuse rather than clarify, which only adds intrigue to the matter. This will no doubt fuel the rumours and speculations which abound since the commissioner's resignation, the group asserts.
Again, CAPI urges the Government to be forthright on the issues which occasioned the untimely departure of Owen Ellington without compromising any national security strategy.
Dennis Meadows & Hugh Fagan
Co-convenors
Citizens' Action for Principle and Integrity
dennis.meadows@hotmail.com
hughfagan@gmail.com
Bunting's failure to be forthright, an affront to J'cans
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