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'Planned effort to embarrass' Foggy Mullings irks Davies
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
FORMER Finance Minister Dr Omar Davies on Sunday lashed the Observer for publishing an article and a cartoon which he described as "a planned effort to seek to embarrass" Seymour 'Foggy' Mullings, the ex-People's National Party (PNP) parliamentarian.
In a letter to the newspaper, Davies said he felt obliged to write concerning the story carried in the Observer's November 23, 2007 edition of the Caribbean Business Report, concerning the employment of former deputy prime minister and minister of finance, Seymour Mullings, as a special advisor on racing issues to the then finance minister.
"I had planned to ignore the story, as it would have been clear to any discerning reader that the sole objective of the piece was to denigrate the capabilities of one of our country's longest-serving and most able parliamentarians," said Davies, who is now the opposition spokesman on finance and planning.
"However, I have decided to 'speak' on the matter following the cartoon in the Sunday Observer of November 25, which signals that there is a planned effort to seek to embarrass Mr Mullings."
Davies accused the writer of the story of making no attempt to reach him for his comments on the issue, "whilst he found it possible to contact others, both named and anonymous, to offer their views".
"If he had, I would have pointed out that Mr Mullings was employed to carry out specific tasks, detailed in formal terms of reference, prepared by the then financial secretary.
"I would have told him that Ambassador Mullings, apart from formerly having ministerial responsibility for the sector, has a well-recognised knowledge of the sector and the main 'players' in it. I would have further informed him that Mr Mullings interfaced with various sectors of the racing industry, on my behalf, and had a monthly meeting with me to provide his advice on policy issues in the sector," Dr Davies insisted.
He added that during the period of Mullings' consultancy, the major issue of concern was the proposed privatisation of the operations of Caymanas Park.
"It would be known to most in the industry that he opposed privatisation, having been instrumental in designing the ownership/ management structure which has been in existence since 1989, when he had ministerial responsibility for the sector, as then minister of finance," said Davies.
"I cannot state definitively the objective of the article and the subsequent cartoon. Whatever it may be, the contributions made to Parliament and the nation by this great Jamaican for nearly four decades represent 'runs on the board' to use an expression from cricket. There are few who can match Mr Mullings' nearly three decades of service to the constituency of South East St Ann; his service as parliamentary secretary, minister of state, full minister, deputy prime minister, leader of the House and finally ambassador to the United States.
"Anyone who witnessed the parliamentary farewell to him would know that he was regarded as a 'special one' by all members of Parliament. I particularly remember the sincere and moving tribute paid to 'Foggy' by the present Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Hon Shahine Robinson.
"In the name of decency, Mr Editor, stop the character assassination of this great Jamaican," Dr Davies wrote.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
FORMER Finance Minister Dr Omar Davies on Sunday lashed the Observer for publishing an article and a cartoon which he described as "a planned effort to seek to embarrass" Seymour 'Foggy' Mullings, the ex-People's National Party (PNP) parliamentarian.
In a letter to the newspaper, Davies said he felt obliged to write concerning the story carried in the Observer's November 23, 2007 edition of the Caribbean Business Report, concerning the employment of former deputy prime minister and minister of finance, Seymour Mullings, as a special advisor on racing issues to the then finance minister.
"I had planned to ignore the story, as it would have been clear to any discerning reader that the sole objective of the piece was to denigrate the capabilities of one of our country's longest-serving and most able parliamentarians," said Davies, who is now the opposition spokesman on finance and planning.
"However, I have decided to 'speak' on the matter following the cartoon in the Sunday Observer of November 25, which signals that there is a planned effort to seek to embarrass Mr Mullings."
Davies accused the writer of the story of making no attempt to reach him for his comments on the issue, "whilst he found it possible to contact others, both named and anonymous, to offer their views".
"If he had, I would have pointed out that Mr Mullings was employed to carry out specific tasks, detailed in formal terms of reference, prepared by the then financial secretary.
"I would have told him that Ambassador Mullings, apart from formerly having ministerial responsibility for the sector, has a well-recognised knowledge of the sector and the main 'players' in it. I would have further informed him that Mr Mullings interfaced with various sectors of the racing industry, on my behalf, and had a monthly meeting with me to provide his advice on policy issues in the sector," Dr Davies insisted.
He added that during the period of Mullings' consultancy, the major issue of concern was the proposed privatisation of the operations of Caymanas Park.
"It would be known to most in the industry that he opposed privatisation, having been instrumental in designing the ownership/ management structure which has been in existence since 1989, when he had ministerial responsibility for the sector, as then minister of finance," said Davies.
"I cannot state definitively the objective of the article and the subsequent cartoon. Whatever it may be, the contributions made to Parliament and the nation by this great Jamaican for nearly four decades represent 'runs on the board' to use an expression from cricket. There are few who can match Mr Mullings' nearly three decades of service to the constituency of South East St Ann; his service as parliamentary secretary, minister of state, full minister, deputy prime minister, leader of the House and finally ambassador to the United States.
"Anyone who witnessed the parliamentary farewell to him would know that he was regarded as a 'special one' by all members of Parliament. I particularly remember the sincere and moving tribute paid to 'Foggy' by the present Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Hon Shahine Robinson.
"In the name of decency, Mr Editor, stop the character assassination of this great Jamaican," Dr Davies wrote.
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