‘I’m very disappointed’
Golding raps private sector heads who have no issue with Chung’s FID appointment
MONTEGO BAY, St James — President of the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) Mark Golding has expressed displeasure with private sector players who have not publicly spoken out against the appointment of Dennis Chung as head of the Financial Investigations Division (FID).
“I’m very disappointed that there are some leaders in the private sector who seem to think there’s nothing wrong with what has taken place,” he told a town hall meeting in Montego Bay Wednesday evening.
Though Golding did not identify any individual or organisation by name, the powerful Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), through its President Metry Seaga, is one of the groups that have embraced Chung’s appointment.
“He has the full support of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica. I do think he has the knowledge and experience to be able to be effective in the position. I know Mr Chung is a no-nonsense person,” Seaga was quoted as saying.
Additionally, Wisynco Group Chairman William Mahfood has been reported as supporting Chung’s move to the FID.
However, Golding suggested that those who see nothing wrong with Chung’s appointment are misguided.
“I suggest that they reconsider the matter and look at the facts, because it is absolutely clear and blatant that this appointment is totally inappropriate, untenable and should not stand,” he insisted.
The PNP president repeated Comrades’ often-expressed concerns that Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s statutory declarations have not been certified by the Integrity Commission (IC) which has referred the matter to the FID. He also repeated the argument that Chung’s public comments on the IC’s report and his lack of law enforcement experience make him unsuitable to lead the FID.
According to Golding, the PNP will continue to speak out against the Chung appointment.
“I’m very happy that various non-government and non-political organisations have come forward and said, ‘This is untenable, this doesn’t look right, it should not stand’,” he said
“We had a very successful peaceful demonstration on Monday morning at National Heroes’ Circle to register publicly our absolute disgust with what is happening and we will continue the struggle,” Golding added.
