Seaga renews call for impeachment policy

WESTERN BUREAU -- Opposition leader, Edward Seaga has reiterated his party's support for the introduction an impeachment policy that would serve to ensure that all high-ranking public officials, including the prime minister, are answerable for their actions in the performance of their public duties.

"The ultimate sanction to those persons in high office whose misconduct hold outside the criminal civil and constitutional codes is the introduction of impeachment, which exists in many countries," Seaga told a meeting of the G2K in Montego Bay last Thursday evening.

"In our case, the offender would be put before the high court, which would determine whether impeachment of the official should proceed, the penalty for which is loss of office. This in effect takes a decisive step, which the prime minister and the Public Services Commission are reluctant to take," he added.

Seaga, during his address, also launched a broadside against the ruling People's National Party, describing it as a government mired in corruption and incapable of providing effective leadership to a country facing a multiplicity of economic and other problems.

An impeachment policy to which the PNP is opposed, Seaga said, would serve to heighten the level of accountability of officials that has been lacking under the PNP administration.

"This prime minister (P J Patterson) has not yet in his tenure of office found it necessary to dismiss any of his negligent ministers or any of those who the evidence points to as being persons who cannot be trusted with the office of minister. He has found an excuse for everyone," Seaga said. "The process of impeachment will rid him of his ineffectiveness and will rid him of his lack of desire to take those decisions. Impeachment will take the decisions for him as to when ministers should be dismissed.

"Impeachment will take the decision as to when any high official elected or selected or appointed can be dismissed," he added.

According to Seaga, impeachment would apply in instances where the official in question:

* fails to carry out his/her entrusted duties;

* fails to carry out duties in the prescribed manner;

* brings his/her office into disrepute; and or

* is implicated in any act of corruption.

"I believe that this process... (will have) a decided impact on how public officials conduct themselves, knowing what awaits them down the line if their conduct is not in keeping with good order and good management," Seaga said. "Without sanctions systems will not work... The administration of a just society must come from the top. Leadership must set the example and lead the way."

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