Gordon Robinson | Dennis, the menace?

I know it’s political silly season but the rabid counting of trees surrounding a recent Financial Investigations Division (FID) appointment whilst being blinded by the forest is just plain sad.

It was announced recently that Dennis Chung, former Jamaica Football Federation General Secretary, had been appointed Chief Technical Director (CTD) at FID. PNP went ballistic. Apparently, Dennis, who was also chairman of National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), was frequently a go-to media commentator on public affairs especially financially related. In that capacity, he broadcast an opinion that an Integrity Commission (IC) report on its investigation into PM’s statutory declarations contained nothing incriminating.

Well, as the great Paul Keens-Douglas might say, who tell him say so?

According to PNP, this disqualified him from working as FID’s CTD because (read carefully) FID is currently investigating PM regarding elements in those same statutory declarations. On May 28, Dayton Campbell threatened: “We are giving this Government 72 hours to rescind this appointment. If they don’t rescind it there will be action all over Jamaica.”

The incredulous inanity beggars description. Perhaps Dennis could send a NSWMA truck to collect these utterances’ yield. What’s wrong with the statements? Let me count the ways.

1. Is FID currently investigating PM? For what? In September 2024, an IC report, tabled in Parliament, disclosed IC was unable to prosecute PM for any offence but was referring the matter to FID for further investigation.

2. IC also asked Parliament to support the referral. Why? Why should Parliament interfere with a statutory authority’s action by “support” or opposition? Why’d IC believe it needed parliamentary support? Was the referral feeble thus needed “support”?

3. Since then nobody has heard a peep from FID. But PNP says FID is “investigating PM”. I don’t know any such thing. It’s entirely possible IC’s request is residing in FID’s file 13

4. Why’d FID’s CTD have anything to do with FID Investigators’ work?

5. Why should PNP be demanding Government intervene in a public service appointment process and “rescind” the appointment? Government has no such authority. Of what is PNP afraid? Did it have a preferred candidate? Is this how PNP plans to interface with Public Service Commission (PSC) as Government?

The most egregious part of PNP’s reaction to Dennis’s appointment is the implicit notion persons can be barred from public service for their expressed opinions. If PSC took that attitude it would be a breach of Dennis’s constitutional right of expression. Why’d anybody assume an expressed opinion would prevent a professional from taking professional decisions in a professional work environment when faced with facts arising from professional investigations?

What’s PNP expecting us to believe? Do they support penalties for disagreeable or inconvenient opinions? What next on this slippery slope? Will a PNP government ensure expressed opinion harms your chances of government jobs? Will foreign students be deported for writing op-eds critical of Government?

It’s time Jamaica’s political parties grow up and smell democracy. The nonsense must be contagious because JLP did the same brainless rubbish when “Dayton’s friend” was appointed an IC acting director.

Lookie here: EVERYONE has an opinion. Some are brave and/or honest enough to express it. We must STOP discouraging people of substance from applying for Government jobs. If we keep up this fascist style suppression of free speech we’ll end up filling Senior Government posts with drooling dotards as qualified persons give Government employment the old Spanish Archer (“El Bow”). How it works in a civilized country is citizens wait for public servants to do something wrong IN THE JOB. Then they criticize.

It’s not cool to assume unprofessionalism. That, as the great Bobby Fray used to repeat, make an (you-know-what) out of “u” and “me”.

As the “one-opinion-allowed” argument was revealed as futile, PNP retreated to attacking Dennis’s qualifications. To bolster this equally obtuse back-up assault, a huge fuss was made about a change in the advertised qualifications. If we weren’t so determined to find fault, this routine recruitment adjustment would only imply FID modified because applicants failed to meet original qualifications or they were considered unnecessary.

Unbiased assessment should reveal unnecessary as the odds-on favourite. Why’d you need 12 years law enforcement experience to be a CTD? Even actual investigators need experience in investigations not necessarily be former Senior Superintendents.

When persons pointed out some previous Directors didn’t have those qualifications it was argued they were at Revenue Protection Division (RPD) before it became FID and RPD wasn’t a law enforcement agency. WRONG. It was. The difference was that RPD enforced tax laws. Then, together with Financial Crimes Unit from DPP’s office, it evolved into FID to investigate and prosecute all financial crimes.

RPD regularly kicked down doors, executed search warrants and prosecuted tax dodgers.

The phantom qualifications issue has been exacerbated by PSC’s cutesy-pie attitude to media queries which they shoveled onto an Access-to-Information (ATI) pile to delay responding. But the public has every right to ask PSC for hiring processes’ details. PSC should explain immediately. This is a different issue from the qualifications/opinions illusion driving unworthy personal attacks on Dennis Chung. But I keep telling you ATI Act is a reminder we’ve NO PRESS FREEDOM in Jamaica. If Press Freedom existed there’d be no need for ATI Act.

Dennis Chung has served on Government Boards under PNP and JLP administrations. He has always conducted himself professionally. Not once has he been accused of corruption. As a Jamaican citizen he’s entitled to express his opinions. THAT can’t disqualify him from public service.

When he was appointed NSWMA Chairman in 2015, NSWMA’s website described him:

“Mr. Chung has a reputation for implementing strategic changes in organisations aimed at improving accountability and transparency and for leading teams that get the work done. These experience and skills will be required as he works to bring about needed change at NSWMA.

“An expert on matters about finance, economics and social development, he is called on extensively to present on varying subject areas within the Caribbean. Mr. Chung is past president of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica and an affiliate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica where he has been a council member since 2005.

“Additionally, he is currently a director at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean and GK Capital Management Limited and since 2000, has served on several boards in the private and public sectors including Bank of Jamaica and Jamaica Urban Transit Company...”

In 2015, Portia Simpson-Miller was PM; Peter Phillips Finance Minister. Now this is the man PNP wants to turn into a political football? This is the man for whom Peter Phillips, after a rare appearance in air-conditioned parliament 13 days before to make a statesmanlike address calling for political collaboration, leaves his home to protest a public service appointment in the heat outside National Heroes Park?

Really? Seriously? Collaboration? Sure….

JLP again proved it’s equally bereft of perspective by holding an ill-advised same day press conference condemning PNP’s protest. But the presser itself was an implicit admission JLP had something to defend regarding Dennis’s appointment. Then the error was compounded when young guns marshalling the presser pugnaciously asserted “the Administration will not be bullied into taking action which would represent a breach of process”. Sas Crise! What “action”? PNP tried to bully Government into rescinding Dennis’s appointment. Listen up, dingbats, Government didn’t make Dennis’s appointment thus can’t rescind it. You’ve thoughtlessly admitted political interference in public service appointments isn’t only possible but, in this case, probable.

See di hypocrites dem a galang deh

See di hypocrites dem a galang deh

JLP impugns an IC Director’s appointment because he’s Dayton Campbell’s friend. PNP calls it “political witch hunt” and says, given Jamaica’s population, social and professional associations with politicians are inevitable and do NOT disqualify anyone from public service. Then PNP attacks Dennis’s appointment because of his opinion that IC report about PM was innocuous. Photos of PM’s participation in Jamaica 60 Cycling across Jamaica celebration are maliciously posted to “prove” Dennis and PM are “friends”. Now JLP accuses PNP of hypocrisy.

This must be the Guy Lombardo show!

Dem cut cut cut ’gainst dem one annoder

Cut cut cut ’gainst dem one annoder

How dem teach to love one annoder?

Today’s lesson: Appointments are commonplace. Only job performance matters. But, in an election year, politicians see only the winning post. Propriety, vision and intelligence are non-starters. Hypocrites abound.

Dem a run come come

with dem gravalicious self

The song, Hypocrites, written by Bob Marley, recorded by Bob Marley and the Wailers (Tuff Gong label), was released in 1969. But, like most of Bob’s music, it could’ve been recorded yesterday.

Peace and Love.

Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com