This week’s featured growth as Newsmaker of the Week is the vary of reactions to the appointment of chartered accountant and monetary commentator Dennis Chung as Chief Technical Director of the Monetary Investigations Division (FID).
The choice by the Workplace of the Providers Fee (OSC) to nominate Chung to that place has sparked a heated public debate, together with the flexing of political muscular tissues between the Opposition and the Authorities, this following the Individuals’s Nationwide Social gathering (PNP) issuing a 72-hour ultimatum from Thursday with a promise of “actions” throughout Jamaica if Chung’s appointment just isn’t reversed.
On Sunday, Opposition Chief and PNP President, Mark Golding suggested of a deliberate peaceable protest in opposition to the appointment at Nationwide Heroes Corcle in Kingston, the place the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service is positioned.
The PNP is contending that the appointment is extremely inappropriate, given Chung’s earlier remarks on the Integrity Fee’s (IC) report regarding Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ statutory declarations over latest years, and in addition declaring that he lacks the technical expertise essential to successfully lead the company.
However a day later, Prime Minister Andrew Holness, talking at a Jamaica Labour Social gathering (JLP) assembly in St James, name for labourites to protest in opposition to what he labelled as ‘Badmindism’ by the PNP, which he sais is making an attempt to bully the Authorities into having Chung’s appointment rescinding, and of additionally being targeted on stymying the progress of the nation.
However, notably, a number of native anti-corruption organisations have additionally raised issues about Chung’s suitability for the place.
In response to the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Chung brings over 35 years of expertise in accounting and monetary administration to the place, having served in each the private and non-private sectors.
He’s an authorized public accountant who holds a Bachelor of Science and a Grasp of Science in accounting, each from the College of the West Indies (UWI).
Chung’s appointment, which is to take impact on June 2, has been defended closely by the Authorities, however the PNP is promising “actions throughout Jamaica” if the appointment just isn’t rescinded inside 72 hours from Thursday.
However within the newest response from the Authorities on Friday, which was issued by the Finance and the Public Service Ministry and included a response from Portfolio Minister Fayval Williams, it dismissed requires the Administration to overturn Chung’s appointment as Chief Technical Director of the FID.
Williams mentioned the choice course of was correctly undertaken by the OSC, declaring that it might be reckless and harmful for the Authorities to hunt to insert itself to overturn the OSC’s suggestion.
Moreover, the discharge mentioned the minister maintained that it might go in opposition to good governance if the choice is overturned.
“This can be a path which Jamaica ought to keep away from,” the discharge mentioned.
“The choice course of was clear. The place was marketed. Candidates have been shortlisted and interviewed. Mr Dennis Chung got here out profitable. We stand firmly behind his choice on the idea that due course of was noticed,” the discharge said.
Along with Chung’s public feedback in regards to the IC’s investigative report on Holness’ statutory declarations, the PNP’s issues relative to his pending prime function on the FID are additionally targeted on remarks he additionally made in regards to the multi-billion-dollar fraud probe relative to Shares and Securities Restricted (SSL).
Talking at a PNP press convention on the matter on Thursday, Opposition Chief Mark Golding declared that the PNP is “completely opposed” to Chung’s appointment.
“We’re giving this Authorities 72 hours to rescind this appointment, and if they don’t rescind it, there will probably be actions throughout Jamaica,” declared Normal Secretary of the PNP, Dr Dayton Campbell, on the similar press convention.
Campbell mentioned the PNP won’t stand idly by whereas the Authorities makes “extremely inappropriate” appointments.
In relation to expertise for the publish, Opposition Spokesman on Citizen Safety, Senator Peter Bunting, mentioned he was suggested that the person who heads such a monetary investigative unit (FIU) ought to have a minimum of 10 years’ expertise in monetary crime investigation, amongst different issues.
“So, in abstract, what we see is that the chief head of an FIU… should mix deep technical experience in monetary crime with management, discretion, and a global outlook,” Bunting said.
He additional mentioned earlier chief technical administrators of the FID like Selvin Hay, Justin Felice and Calvin Small, have been all senior detectives with distinguished careers in felony investigations, intelligence gathering, anti-corruption, and monetary crimes.
Bunting additionally pointed to former senior (authorized) counsel on the Financial institution of Jamaica (BOJ), Robin Sykes, who, Bunting claimed, had specialised experience in anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing.
“Girls and gents, by comparability, Dennis Chung is a weak and unsuitable candidate for this publish, and while you take a look at the January 2025 advert (commercial) for this publish, you can be stunned to see that it appears to be like like a generic administration or administrative publish, slightly than for somebody who’s a chief technical director in a monetary investigative unit,” Bunting asserted.
Two native anti-corruption organizations, Nationwide Integrity Motion (NIA) and Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal (JAMP), have additionally raised issues about Chung’s {qualifications} for the appointment. .
NIA additionally expressed issues about Chung’s earlier statements on the IC’s report, which it mentioned elevate legit questions on his objectivity on the matter that’s now earlier than the FID.
“Considerations about Mr Chung’s objectivity elevate legit doubts concerning the integrity of the investigation into the prime minister’s report from the Integrity Fee, which, in flip, influences how each the general public and key stakeholders understand the findings,” NIA asserted.
JAMP questioned Chung’s qualification for the publish, noting that whereas he’s a certified chartered accountant, “there are not any identified indications” of prior expertise in complicated forensic investigations involving politically uncovered individuals, main or managing regulation enforcement or monetary crime groups, working in anti-money laundering or asset restoration fields, or navigating cross-border mutual authorized help or Monetary Motion Activity Power (FATF)/Egmont requirements.
The query of Chung’s technical qualification and expertise in areas like regulation enforcement and monetary investigation and different associated fields has additionally been raised by civil society advocate Carol Narcisse.
However a launch from the Finance Ministry mentioned partially that, “Moreover, Minister (Fayval) Williams mentioned that characterising Mr Chung as “simply an accountant” demonstrates ignorance because it pertains to the competency and skill-set required for the place.
“These questioning ought to do a search that can point out that to grow to be the pinnacle of a monetary investigation division you’ll want a… sturdy mixture of training, expertise and abilities. Usually, this includes a Bachelor’s diploma in a related subject like accounting, finance, regulation or a associated space, together with a minimum of seven to 10 years of expertise in areas like auditing, monetary evaluation or investigations.”
The discharge additional said that, “Mr Chung possesses ample related training, expertise and abilities for this place.”
In response to the ultimatum that has been given by the Opposition to the Authorities, the JLP rejected the PNP’s name for Chung’s appointment to be rescinded.
Authorities Senator Marlon Morgan described the PNP’s try and purportedly bully and manipulate the system, as being unacceptable.
Morgan mentioned it might be disappointing if the PNP is searching for to convey the choice course of into disrepute, given {that a} attainable candidate of their alternative was not discovered to have merited choice for the publish.
In addressing the matter at a post-Cupboard press briefing on Thursday, Minister of Training, Abilities, Youth and Info, Dr Dana Morris Dixon, defended the choice course of, saying that it was truthful and clear.
“I’ve seen a gentleman who has excelled in every thing that he has performed. I’ve confidence within the crew that does the interviews that selects these people. We maintain saying it’s a course of,” Morris Dixon mentioned.
“Nobody simply wakes up and, you already know, a minister calls and says, ‘Right here’s a job for you’. It can’t work like that,” Morris Dixon said.
As the talk continues, some social media customers are demanding that the Authorities mustn’t rescind Chung’s appointment, and as a substitute, stand by the choice to nominate him.
Nonetheless, others are questioning whether or not Chung is the precise individual for the job, with some arguing that the difficulty has merely grow to be too political.
“It’s as a result of he (Chung) don’t sing the PNP music why they saying this. So to how I see it, nobody should get appointed to any place in Jamaica, as a result of regardless, that individual going to lean in the direction of a aspect,” a person wrote on Fb.
In response, a lady agreed with that viewpoint.
“There’s a disgusting tendency on this nation to tarnish and diminish the character and integrity of people who don’t mirror comparable views and opinions. I suppose they have been happier underneath colonialism than being ruled by our personal individuals,” she opined.
A person wrote that, “Mr Dennis Chung mentioned issues about Usain Bolt, and see deh, him (Chung) a guh lead the identical place a examine the matter (SSL)! Dis nuh proper.”
Commented one other man: “I’m completely against the PNP main the nation”.
Mentioned one other man: “We should can discover a higher candidate than him. This man (Chung) has had too many political appointments.”
However one other male Fb person argued that Chung “was duly appointed by the Public Service Fee, based mostly on his {qualifications}”.
He additional advised that, “The method was neutral. The PNP is an absolute shame and joke on the level.”
In response to a lady, “The so-called Integrity Fee seems to be made up of individuals opposing Anju (Andrew Holness), so not a ting don’t fallacious if we do the identical.”
In the meantime, a person questioned the rationale of not appointing a person with regulation enforcement expertise to what he advised is a technical function.
“One thing smells stink within the state of Jamaica! The place clearly says a chief technical director, with the related expertise to cope with fraud and different technical points regarding monetary crimes, so how we get to Dennis Chung appointed right here?” the person requested.
A lady expressed the view that, “If Fayval Williams and the JLP can’t perceive why Dennis Chung heading the FID stinks, and is smelly, then we’re doomed as a rustic if sympathisers can head essential regulation enforcement businesses.”
Source link
