IMF reps should 'see and blind, hear and deaf'

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

WHILE we encourage free speech for our people and our guests, we do have some concerns which we feel are worthy of ventilation.

Representatives of international financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, as well as diplomats generally, have to be extremely careful in how they comment on local events.

The local representative of an international organisation must never publicly say what the government of a country must or should do about any aspect of economic policy. The code of client confidentiality is even stricter than in the private sector because comments in the public domain can be misinterpreted, and cause serious political and economic damage.

Even the most carefully worded statement can be misunderstood or misinterpreted and hence it is wiser not to speak in public. The current environment in Jamaica bears this out. The international representative can never be sure that when he makes public utterances that they are not open to mischievous misinterpretation, in the cut and thrust of our general election campaign.

In the immediate case, the local IMF representative who has been very vocal, is expected to represent the policies and the views of the Fund to the Jamaican Government and in turn transmit their impressions of the administration's position to his head office. He should engage in confidential dialogue with the technicians and officials of the country's economic policy institutions, such as the Bank of Jamaica.

On special occasions, he may have audience with a minister or be present when senior officials from the headquarters of the IMF visit Jamaica. For example, when the head of the Western Hemisphere Department is in Kingston to hold discussions with the minister of finance.

The IMF representative may feel that it is necessary to explain the policies of the IMF to the public. This of necessity will involve public statements which may be reported in the press. However, in his public utterances the local representative of the Fund must never characterise the state of negotiations with the Government of Jamaica nor appear to criticise, admonish or warn the Government.

This would constitute a breach of accepted protocol and the established rules of engagement. Mishaps can lead to the breakdown in trust and introduce tension in the relationship between the representative, and by extension the IMF and the government, irrespective of which political party forms the next executive.

The IMF representative must resist the temptation of public speaking and especially not in the throes of an election campaign. There is a great deal that he could learn from his senior colleague at the IMF, the careful and discreet Dr Trevor Alleyne.

The occasional mishap or indiscretion is a shame on the representative, but if there are serial offences then it affects the image of the IMF. The Government of Jamaica would be well within its sovereign rights to complain. Serial indiscretions should be penalised by reprimand, recall or dismissal depending on the severity of the offences.

If the local IMF representative is not speaking out of turn, and is acting on instructions or with clearance, then he is no rogue agent and that can pose even more difficulties between the next government of Jamaica and the IMF.

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COMMENTS (9)

Alessa Brown
12/2/2011

IF FOR 18 1/2 YRS NOTHING WAS DONE WAS THE COLATERAL THAT THIS NEW GOV'T WENTTO THE IMF WIT?U SELL UR AIRLINE ONLY TO PUMP MONEY IN ANOTHER

PL BOGLE
11/30/2011

The concept of governance in the sense of the overall management of a country's economy cannot be irrelevant to an international financial institution, The local representative of IMF can however, comment on issues at a time when they have become a major concern, to business organizations and indeed to the government and people of a member country. The only legal barrier in this respect is that in doing so the IMF and its staff must be concerned only with the economic causes and effects and should refrain from intervening in the country's political affairs.

Kevin Forge
11/30/2011

Embassy's, IMF Missions, foreign Government's and Government owned Companies.
Propaganda agents need to be warned. In this New World Order, You cannot chat these entities and count on them remaining silent.
Not even if you are Dr. Phillips.

Silver Star
11/30/2011

Mr Editor; What you are saying is nonsense, it is the IFM'S money and the government is not adhering to the agreement, and will not tell the Jamaican people the truth, if they did then the Representative would not have to make these comments. People are blaming the IMF so they have to clear their name. Why not tell the Government to be candid with the people of Jamaica.

Dan smith
11/30/2011

Although I am always against any government JLP/PNP going to the IMF for loans because they always make things worst if they do they tell the people the truth, It seems as if you are one of those who want to keep on misleading the Jamaican people and not telling them the truth so they can make dicision in their best intrest, Oh I see ELECTION is comming up the people must lie to,

0o k
11/30/2011

Funny the Jamaica Observer did not post my comments o the day of the article, but this headline is saying essentially what i said that day.......Maybe it is because I mentioned the USA Embassy?

Brooklyn Jamaican
11/30/2011

Beggas is nat choozas

Jay Brown
11/30/2011

I too am concerned on how vocal this guy is, but the fact is the GOJ is not leveling with the people and the people of Jamaica has a right to know what is going on.

wanda woeman
11/30/2011

As I read your editorial I was finding such new respect for you that my head begun to grow. And then I saw it, FUND MUST NEVER CHARACTERISE THE STATE OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF JAMAICA NOR APPEAR TO CRITICISE, ADMONISH OR WARN THE GOVERNMENT.
The “affairs of the country” would be more appropriate to my mind, since Mr. Alleyne’s remarks were more damaging to the PNP, when he said the IMF conditions could not be renegotiated before 2012.
China Harbour also overstepped its bounds when it went into a tirade against the Opposition, following accusations made by Paulwell, when a simple “untrue,” could have sufficed.

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IMF reps should 'see and blind, hear and deaf'