PNPYO calls out double standards in ethics committee actions, demands equal scrutiny for JLP MPs
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The People’s National Party Youth Organisation (PNPYO) is condemning what it describes as a troubling pattern of selective enforcement by Parliament’s Ethics Committee, following reports that a member of parliament is to be summoned on a matter already concluded by the House.
According to a release, General Secretary of the PNPYO, Peta-Gay Ferguson, said the decision raises serious concerns about whether the Ethics Committee is being applied fairly and consistently.
“Let us be clear. A matter that has already been examined, reported to the House, and approved through a motion cannot simply be resurrected without a proper basis. That is not oversight, that is overreach,” Ferguson said.
She argued that if the Ethics Committee is serious about accountability, then its attention must extend beyond a single, already-settled matter. “Where is the move to summon names like Dr Andrew Holness, Dr Christopher Tufton, Donovan Williams, Robert Montague, or Daryl Vaz in relation to the serious allegations, scandals, and concerns surrounding the misuse of public and charitable funds? Jamaicans are not blind to the disparity,” she added.
Ferguson said this uneven approach risks undermining public trust in institutions meant to uphold integrity. “Young people are watching closely. They are seeing which matters are pursued aggressively and which are quietly ignored. That kind of inconsistency erodes confidence in the very systems meant to ensure fairness and accountability,” she said.
She maintained that accountability cannot be selective or politically convenient. “If the Ethics Committee is to retain any credibility, it must demonstrate that the rules apply equally to all, not just to some. There must be no sacred cows, no protected names and no double standard,” Ferguson asserted.
The PNPYO is calling for a fair, transparent, and even-handed approach to all matters of ethical concern before Parliament. “Accountability is not a tool to be wielded against some while shielding others. It must be principled, consistent, and above reproach. Jamaica deserves nothing less,” she concluded.
