Sir Patrick in a political pickle

Thursday, January 26, 2012

THE contribution of politics to our advancement, or lack of advancement, in the half century ending this year, is yet to be fully and deeply analysed. When this reflection is done, and there is no better time than now as we contemplate our 50th anniversary of Independence, it is certain that our two major political parties will have much for which to account.

The imbroglio concerning the appointment of Ms Sally Porteous as custos of Manchester virtually on the eve of the December 29, 2011 general election, and the consequent protest actions by some irritated justices of the peace (JPs) in that parish, is not uncommon, thanks to the way we practise our politics in this unfortunate country.

As told, the story is that Mr Calvin Lyn, a former People's National Party (PNP) Member of Parliament for North East Manchester, had been acting since last August as custos rotulorum of Manchester following the resignation of Dr Gilbert Allen, who had served in the position since 1994. Apparently, Mr Lyn, a well known funeral director and former president of the Lay Magistrates Association of Jamaica, had expectations that he would be confirmed as custos.

In October 2011, then Justice Minister Delroy Chuck confirmed what had been long rumoured that Ms Porteous, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillor for the Mandeville division and a losing contestant for the Central Manchester seat in 2007, would be custos and she was quickly appointed a JP in preparation.

However, the pending appointment of Ms Porteous has not gone down well with several other JPs who had also expected Mr Lyn to be confirmed in the position.

President of the Manchester Lay Magistrates Association, Mr Ulit Brackett, wrote a letter on their behalf to then Prime Minister Bruce Golding and copied to the Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, urging that Mr Lyn be appointed as custos, arguing that "the majority of JPs are supporting Mr Calvin Lyn because they respect him and that's the person they want as Custos". Mr Brackett also indicated, in no uncertain terms, that "there is and will be unease among JPs in the parish" if Mr Lyn was not appointed.

Since then, the normally staid and unruffled JPs have staged a demonstration, walked out of last Thursday's half-yearly meeting of the Manchester Chapter of the Lay Magistrates Association, as well as petitioned the new Government and the governor general to stop the swearing-in of Ms Porteous that was set for today.

In the latest development, the governor general yesterday announced an indefinite postponement of the swearing-in ceremony, leaving an air of pregnant uncertainty.

Mr Chuck has been reported as saying that the objection to Ms Porteous has been politically motivated. We can't say, but he may be right. However, Mr Chuck should know that his handling of the matter invited the kind of response it has since received. Had the normal processes been allowed to take their course, we might not have ended up in this embarrassing situation.

We don't know what course is open to Sir Patrick who acted on the advice of the former prime minister in appointing Ms Porteous as the custos-designate. Anything done now is bound to set a controversial precedence.

We would not wish to find ourselves in the pickle that Sir Patrick must find himself in at this time.

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COMMENTS (18)

4/20/2012

I read your article, and find it to be very frank.I never pay much oanettitn to the polls, and have always questioned to credibility of the polsters, and the credibility of how the polls are conducted. In my mind, polls in Jamaica are done not to give the public an idea of what the outcome of elections will be, but to influcence a result. So what is really the agenda of the polsters? I don't trust them.I have never voted before, because of polsters who kept giving PNP to winning mark all the time. But when I go the supermarket, I feel what the JLP is saying to the public, that cost of living is too high in Jamaica. The polsters, may based on their survey, say things are good, people want more bad governance from the PNP, people want more high electricity bills, more bad service from government institutions, and a continued rise in the crime rate. Well, I am voting this time, and not for the PNP. I will not be influenced by polster's no more. There is no way that interviewing about a thousand people, can speak for about over a million five hundred thousand potential voters. It would be interesting to know what are their political persuasions.

2/14/2012

Kewl you should come up with that. Execllent!

Chipmunk L.
2/12/2012

We would hope that the " best person " for the job is always the one chosen! When we do that we will have turned the corner on the road to a clean democratic Jamaica.
We await maturity.

Elli Deedo
2/9/2012

Sir Allen is simply sending the message of his Political party by endorcing Sally who was recommended by their controversial leader Mr Golding. He was not in favour of the acting Custos, very clear. Not sure if, and how he was compensated, but he was pleased to have endorsed Mrs Sally; with little or no regard for the acting Custos and the media, beyond closed doors he performed his political duty. I strongly think we should kindly ask this gentleman to terminate his service:

Elli Deedo
2/9/2012

This GG seems to be in support of every form of conflict. He supported the idea of the youth going to prison for a few pads of Ackee. Prior to that he was at a breakfast held at Pegasus speaking about creating opportunities for the youths of the carribbean. Here he acted in support of Golding's political favour to Sally Porteous.Beyond closed doors he rejected the Media. I'am of the opinion that he's a Labourite GG. He know's that Mr Lyn should be the next Custos. Why did he rejected the press?:

0o k
1/28/2012

@Jeff Orange
The current GG should step down and allow the New Prime Minister to appoint a new Governor General///
Put one more Comrade in line to receive a fat pension, with helpa, cyar and guard dawg and gardner?

jenn longmore
1/27/2012

Jamaica is undoubtedly still reeling from the mis-steps of former PM Golding who I thought erred in appointing someone so steeped in religion as GG. Jamaica is a secular state and Golding in his arrogance sought to impact every aspect of Jamaica's social fabric with his personal arrogant views. It is he who should have resigned the minute Dudus/Manatt broke and now he is nowhere in sight ? This Porteous saga is clearly political expediency as are other areas of jamaica's socio-political scene

James St. John
1/27/2012

All are in a pickle at this time, and I am shocked of the behaviour of Mr. Chuck, for he was the only one, along with Tufton who opperated differently than the sad bunch in the JLP. This party needs a "wash", a bath... maybe???????

Fabian Williams
1/27/2012

The GG should proceed with the matter. Comrade Lyn and his gang must realize that Jamaica also belong to persons having different political views than the PNP. This foolishness must stop.

wanda woeman
1/27/2012

I have absolutely no respect for the GG from as far back as when he went on leave while the controversial Casino Gambling Act was to be signed. He should have done the creditable thing then and resigned.
He might well redeem himself now and at least offer his resignation to the present administration. It might not be accepted but then again they might not be comfortable working with a GG who cannot perform his state duties on a Saturday, especially with the imminence of the50th.
The former GG did resign and we know why, despite the statement and explanation from JA House. .

N Manley Blythe
1/26/2012

Editor, are you confirming that the GG position is strictly political? That's the only way I see he could be in a pickle.

Jeff Orange
1/26/2012

The current GG should step down and allow the New Prime Minister to appoint a new Governor General and until such time that the GG and Custos positions are eliminated. The current GG is aligned with the previous administration and in my book, tainted by previous inactions on his path over the last 3+ years. BTW, the Custos function is a waste of government funds...they serve no useful purpose.

0o k
1/26/2012

Raw politics ...dats all!

norris Richards
1/26/2012

Sir Patrick is not in political pickle, only if is not comfortable with the decision he has to make. He is paid well and he is a Sir, they come with making tough decisions. One caveat his decision should not be clouded by tribal politics.

Mark Forbes
1/26/2012

I have no sympathy for the GG. He should have seen it as his duty to prevent the sort of blatant political nepotism that is the appointment of Ms Porteous. The position of GG does not call for it to be a rubber stamp for political interests. This thing should have been quietly nipped in the bud at the recommendation stage.
@wwoeman, Mr Lyn has been out of the political spotlight for too long , especially compared to Ms P, for people to be seeing equivalence.

Anthony II
1/26/2012

Why is it that we always allow politics to divide us? I can see, though, how the JPs would be upset by Mr. Lyn being by-passed. I want to see how this one will be resolved. I used to hold the position of JP in high regard, but I no longer do, and situations such as these can only serve to further erode what vestige of respect remains. Somehow, "strike action by JPs" does not seem "right."
.
On word usage: "Anything done now is bound to set a controversial PRECEDENT."

fall mouth
1/26/2012

The J.Ps of Mandeville should demand an apology from Mr. Chuck for saying that the objection to Ms. Porteous appointment has been politically motivated; for to say so, is to insinuate that the appointment was not in turn without political considerations and to take them for FOOLS.
The country knows why the appointment was made and also why the objection was launched against it. Mr. Chuck would have been much more credible had he allowed the matter to play itself out without saying anything, as the PNP is doing.
It is normal for certain appointments to be made in a certain way, but this one as the one in another parish recently, was without precedence.

wanda woeman
1/26/2012

If the objection to Mrs. S.P’s appointment is politically motivated, then even moreso was the appointment. Mrs. P was not a J.P. but was a former candidate for the JLP, and a deputy mayor of Mandeville. The acting Custos was a former founding member of the Lay Magistrates Association, its president for many years, the acting custos, and no finger could be pointed at his stewardship. He was also a former PNP M.P.
Thee is no evidence that the protests were initiated by the PNP (although it might be fair to assume so), but it must be remembered that they started even before the PNP’s landslide victory, when many of us had no inkling that the JLP would be swept out of office. Mr. Chuck, four of your fingers are pointing back at you, Sir.

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Sir Patrick in a political pickle