Time to wet pants! - Readers react to CG’s pending departure

Readers react to news of Christie’s pending departure

Sunday, February 27, 2011

CONTRACTOR General Greg Christie last week, in a dramatic one-liner, announced he would be demitting that office next year.

Christie made the disclosure to members of the Joint Select Committee of Parliament and later refused to be drawn into giving details by the Sunday Observer. Since his announcement, however, there have been many comments from Observer online readers, some of which are reproduced below:

John Justice: Hell, can't you just go like tomorrow??

Trevor Dawes: It's going to be a sad day for Jamaica and the cause of good governance when Mr Christie leaves office. Why couldn't it have been Bruce, Dorothy, Doug Leys and Vaz leaving office next year? Come to think of it, they just might be, as there'll be elections next year so there's hope.

Larry Smith: I hope this good man reconsiders his mind about leaving, arguably Greg Christie could easily top the best public servant in this country since Bustamante. We need another 1,000 ps like him. Now let me say I hope he will be moving to head the DPP for the sake of justice.

Dr Joan Porteous: The Opposition and Government must have consensus to retain Mr Greg Christie if they are serious about accountability, justice and the business of the collective. As long as he is in good health he should remain in office. Civil servants of the calibre of Mr Greg Christie are like finding a needle in a haystack. A honourable Jamaican. Why there is no common ground between the OCG and the DPP, are they not in defence of the same objectives -- accountability and justice -- and work for the same institution?

Truths N Rights: This will be a sad day for Jamaica when Mr Christie leaves office. I think he is being driven out a office by all the corruption in the governments (PNP & JLP) and the justice system. Without the Ja people behind him 100 per cent, his job is more of a suicide mission. He is the only member of government who is willing start the clean-up and here he stands alone. This is a real shame, where are all the commenters who are always talking about change? I guess this is not important. ONLY IN JAMAICA. GOD HELP US!

Wa Tch: How amusing! Mair presumes to chastise Christie.

Denise Harrison: As usual, someone with integrity steps down from a post, I am sure all the corrupt citizens in Jamaica will be rejoicing now. No wonder the country has regressed since Independence. If there is anyone willing to stand up for law and order, his character must be destroyed with subtle threats and innuendos. Walk good, Mr Christie. Go on to bigger and better things and leave them in the cesspool that has become business and politics as usual. As an American/Jamaican I am disgusted.

Isaac Riley Jr: Corruption in politics is exasperating. I feel Christie's pain. The political machinery needs him: it is an understatement to say that we need checks and balances.

JA Cynic: Will he be the new Special Prosecutor? PM Golding has been reported as saying the Christie-like characteristics are ideally suited for this position.Why take a substitute when you can appoint the genuine?

Ramon Castro: Thank you very much Mr Christie for your tireless service in the OCG. You have done your job with tremendous courage and fidelity. Wish we had a system of government where the Office of the Prime Minister/Cabinet is not linked to Parliament. If this was so, most of the current members would be long gone. Most are there, not because they want to service their constituencies, but they have high hopes of becoming cabinet members, thereby, giving them easy access to taxpayers' money.

Gene Knall: Let us be clear, we respect the work of the contractor general. However, this particular office holder took things very personal and did not seem to respect the work of other public service office holders -- like the DPP. He seemed to think any decision or position his report/findings held, everyone else should just fall in line behind him. Well, that is what caused our institutions to be in the public cass-cass now. This man needs to go, he cannot handle power.

Clara Brooks: Christie, the prime minister's endorsement was not meant well, and you were smart enough not to swallow or wallow into such superficial praise. Well someone else will take your place, no doubt. And a word of advice, WRITE A BOOK ON WHAT Jamaica needs to be 'uncorrupt'. You will not be missed Christie, you gave in too easily. Enter politics at your own peril.

Al Vanawic: They finally manage to force Christie out of office. Jamaica will not only be one of the most corrupt countries on earth, it will now be the MOST CORRUPT.

Anthony II: This is some sad news. I am sure that those who despise honesty, those who speak dishonestly of the need for integrity, those who want to see corruption flourish, those who are threatened by those who work for honesty, and certainly all our politicians will rejoice in this news. Even this newspaper seems to have joined in the efforts to taint this man. How about weighing the good he has done against the bad? I forgot; he stands for honesty, an alien concept for some.

Raul Grant: This is not good news. CG we need you in public life -- seriously consider politics. Jamaica needs change.

Jay Brown: The Opposition which is biting at the "chops" with the anticipation that they will be elected must be elated. This CG has done a tremendous job, but the problem of corruption is so deeply engrained in the Jamaican society, that it will take years to create a new society. Bandoolism is everywhere!

R Rose: Another one of Jamaica's beacons has thrown in the towel. In Mr Christie's current capacity as OCG, I can understand. It is so sad, but sadly, not unexpected. I only hope & pray that he goes after the DPP job or even the PM job. We should stand up and fight with Mr Christie to oust these crooked politicians, instead of being entertained by their rubbish! As he rightly observed, one law for rich & different one for poor. The Man cannot do it alone! How long before we stop talking & doing!

C. Brown: Wow!! A sad day for Jamaica! A joyous day for corrupt politicians and civil servants. I would be happy if it was the DPP who was going. Thank you, Mr Christie for keeping us informed and for making us believe that there was hope for Jamaica; with you goes that hope. You are a leader of integrity and strong will, and that went against the norm. Thank you again Sir, for your audacity to make a positive change...Jamaica needs you, so please reconsider.

Anthony C: Certain MP in the house must be smiling when they hear this news. Mr Christie has done his job well. I hope the politicians who think this man was overzealous have now got the chance to put in place someone they can control.

One Jamaican: It is sad, not to see that Christie is leaving, but that he squandered his opportunity, much like some politicians. His attraction to media and rush to soil people's names, before completing an investigation, not only went against the "innocent until proven guilty", but compromised the important OCG. He no doubt has brought awareness to corruption, and has been effective, but his style of execution has compromised the OCG. He should leave office for this.

Larry Simpson: So another good Jamaican in Greg Christie "bites the dust from public service". Are we going to hear how poor he was as is customary with all other public servants and persons on Government boards that have either resigned or asked to resign? We can't develop a nation of yes men/women, if this is what our political system is gearing up to become. The people will retaliate and it will not be a PNP vs JLP clash. I hope the person that will take over will not be a political appointment, a closet PNP/JLP.

Carlos Bryson: Sorry to hear of your decision, Mr Christie. What your office is supposed to be is in direct contradiction with a system that rewards illegal behaviour at the highest levels of society. What they want is someone to protect reputations and not the public trust. I would only hope you have been able to help such society see the value of transparency and accountability. Many of us don't believe in these tenets as a basis for a well-run operation...government or private sector. Much respect.

Robbie Gore: Ahaa. For those of you who believe this is good news...think again. Greg will be back as the Special Prosecutor. Mark my words. Remember Bruce's endorsement of him. Greg cannot get a job in the private sector because he has ruffled so many feathers. They will conspire to keep him out. Greg's dream is to send some of these people he reported on to prison. He didn't succeed with the DPP's office. Now this is his opportunity. GREG WILL BE JAMAICA's FIRST SPECIAL PROSECUTOR. Time to WET PANTS.

Carpe Diem: "...when he was asked by this reporter about his decision, Christie...would only offer -- "It's a very short quote. It's just one line. I am leaving the office next year. It's nothing much to write about."

After the recent round of vitriol hurled at him by this publication were you seriously expecting more than that?

— Desmond Allen

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Time to wet pants! - Readers react to CG’s pending departure