Mark Wignall | Bitter water in the big house

Recently Vernon Derby, from Omega radio, wrote in his blog; “Recently, when the Integrity Commissioners were invited to Parliament, I became … more concerned. The IC chairman’s behaviour struck me as odd. He made a point of bringing his own water instead of drinking from a parliamentary bottle, insinuating that the behaviour of parliamentarians might be influenced by the water they consume in Parliament. While this was a humorous remark, it felt inappropriate. He even suggested that a psychiatrist should evaluate members of the House!”

While I’m not so sure that I agree with Vernon or, disagree with him, I find it an easier fit to say that I’m somewhat confused. Indeed, it seems that just about everyone is in the middle of the muddle that the Integrity Commission (IC) has become, compliments of an active coven of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) cabinet members.

Mr Derby finds it odd that Mr Justice (ret’d) Seymour Panton decided to carry his own water to the big house instead of drinking from a parliamentary bottle. If it was indeed a humorous swipe, it could mean that some politicians are ‘having a taste’ under the appropriate disguise. Or, maybe it could be a cultural throwback to a time way back when it was rumoured that the JLP would direct certain spiked drinks to those politicians who were trying to beat the clock by climbing too fast.

As to psychiatric evaluation, maybe an extra ‘taste’ could delay the first visit. According to Mr Derby, Panton seems to have a negative bias against some members of Parliament. If that is so, it seems to be fully returned. According to Vernon, the IC chairman invited some of the parliamentarians to attend church. So, in one breath there is a triple whammy – a taste, an evaluation of the headspace, and divine guidance. Amen.

For some years now, it has been the quiet mantra in political circles that most members of the IC have thrown in their lot with the People’s National Party (PNP). On that basis, JLP politicians in the big house tend to approach matters like important reports sent to parliament in an adversarial light, seemingly designed to embarrass the ruling party.

In recent times, it has not helped that failure to give the prime minister a 100 per cent clean slate has only pushed the JLP and the IC to opposing corners of the fighting ring.

CONFUSION AND MIX-UP

An October 16 press release titled, ‘Integrity Commission alarmed by misrepresentations made in the House of Representatives by Government member of parliament Everald Warmington about Audits of the Commission’ said, among other things: “Ironically, the Integrity Commission Parliament Oversight Committee, of which Mr Warmington is a member, met with the Commission for several hours yesterday morning. One of the stated purposes of the meeting was to review the 2023/2024 Annual Report of the Commission, inclusive of the Commission’s Audited Financial Statements for the 2023/2024 Fiscal Year. The Audited Financial Statements appear in the last 31 pages of the Annual Report.

“The letter which approved the appointment of an Independent External Auditor to audit the accounts and financial affairs of the Integrity Commission for Fiscal Year 2023/2024 was signed by the Minister of Finance, Dr Nigel Clarke, on April 24.

“The Integrity Commission remains concerned that there are Parliamentarians who continue to exhibit a clear lack of knowledge, or understanding, of the very laws that they are elected to write. It is also obvious that some Parliamentarians do not read the reports of the Integrity Commission that are routinely tabled in the House of Representatives.”

One of the troubling negatives besetting Parliament is that all cabinet productivity is not at the same level. One minister may leave his office at 9 p.m. with reams of reports to be read. He or she will sleep at midnight. Others will have trainees, either at the office or their homes, combing through reports and having important notes for the eyes of the minister by the next morning.

Other ministers are just lazy and have too many ‘tastes’ from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Somewhere in the mix is a report or reports to be read. The IC and the political directorate seem to be moving apart instead of finding reasons to work together. Reminds me of the NGO Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ).

At the formation of JFJ, many sensible Jamaicans could not understand that a society could operate with one sector caring about possible police excesses and another sector caring about matters supporting the police.

At present, the Jamaica Labour Party is leading the people of this country into a position where the IC is being seen as a bitter rival to lawmakers in the House and Senate. The final resting place of this arrangement is definitely not where we ought to be heading.

MEDIA AND THE IC

The media must report on the perception in Jamaican society of illicit wealth of parliamentarians, especially those who hold government power. The media must report on JLP corruption, especially where it shoots far ahead of perception, awarding of contracts in a very questionable manner, and overall opaque behaviour and sleaze. That is the job of a free press in a democratic society.

It has a very chilling effect on press freedom when a video is circulated with names and photos of journalists with whom some take issue. In Jamaica where one can be killed for looking at someone the wrong way, the video is a dangerous invitation to the violence producers in Jamaican society. It is reckless, highly irresponsible, and, yes, it is hateful..

Mark Wignall is a political and public affairs analyst. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and mawigsr@gmail.com