Bunting’s failure to be forthright on Ellington’s retirement an affront to Jamaicans — CAPI
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Lobby group Citizens’ Action for Principle and Integrity (CAPI) says that the reluctance of National Security Minister Peter Bunting to be forthright on the reasons behind former Police Commissioner Owen Ellington’s early retirement is an “affront to the interest of the Jamaican people”.
According to CAPI co-convenor Dennis Meadows, the minister must be reminded that national security and the fight against crime, hinges on the buy-in of the citizenry, facilitated by an environment of transparency and candor. “The culture of secrecy, which characterises the government doesn’t augur well for stakeholders buy-in,” CAPI said in a release Wednesday.
“We dismiss the suggestion that Ellington’s departure was caused by concerns of human rights abuses by international partners, as the out-going commissioner has been consistent in his efforts to remind his sub-ordinates, through force orders, of their obligation to protect the human rights of citizens. We are of the belief that the issue(s) surrounding Ellington’s sudden departure goes beyond what is stated by the minister in parliament.”
The group noted that while it appreciated the possible sensitive nature of the information involved, “it is disingenuous of the Minister to hide under the cloak of classified information in an obvious attempt to obfuscate the matter, this while dropping hints for the general public to decipher”.
Ellington announced that he would be going on retirement effective July 1, suggesting that the investigation into death squad activities as well as the commission of enquiry to be held into the May 2010 Tivoli incursion have informed his decision to leave the position.
On Tuesday Bunting, in relation to Ellington’s early retirement, told Parliament that for security reasons some issues cannot be publicly aired.
Bunting’s statement in parliament yesterday, serves only to confuse rather than clarify which only add intrigue to the matter. This will no doubt fuel the rumours and speculations, which abound since the commissioner’s resignation, CAPI said.
