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EDITORIAL: No need for PNP hand-wringing
published: Friday | February 29, 2008
We are surprised that there is, or seems to be, much hand-wringing on the part of the People's National Party (PNP) on how to deal with Kern Spencer, the former junior energy minister, and MP for North East St Elizabeth.
Mr Spencer has been charged with fraud and corruption in relation to his management of the distribution of light bulbs that were given by Cuba for free delivery to Jamaicans. Others with whom the police allege Mr Spencer colluded have been similarly charged.
He eventually sought leave from the House of Representatives - as we had suggested - while he fights his case. He has also resigned from his posts in the party.
With regard to Mr Spencer specifically, the PNP's option at this time is quite simple. The party must allow the law to take its course.
This newspaper has made it quite clear that it is pleased that the investigation on the light bulb affair took place - by the auditor general, the contractor general and the police. We are happy, too, that the police themselves decided to lay charges against Mr Spencer and the others, rather than submitting a file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for its ruling.
They clearly felt that a prima facie case had been made and decided to take action, rather than ducking behind the DPP in an attempt to evade responsibility. Hopefully, this was to send a signal that no one is above the law and that all can expect equal treatment from its agencies of enforcement. If we are right, this display of confidence by the constabulary is encouraging.
But the charges laid against Mr Spencer and the other persons are allegations which the police and the office of the DPP must pursue with rigour.
We, however, believe in the principle of justice and firmly subscribe to the legal code that assumes an individual innocent until he is proved guilty in a court of law and would have had a fair opportunity to rebut the claims of his accusers.
That is essentially the approach we expect the PNP to adopt towards Mr Spencer, which is neither to deny nor embrace his alleged conduct. That approach does not deny the party the right to offer legal assistance to a member to mount his defence. The same should apply to anyone else who might be charged in this or any other case.
It is for this reason, too, that we would advise those in the administration who have pronounced publicly on the case to avoid appearing to gloat and to give the impression that the charges amount to guilt.
Beyond Mr Spencer's specific legal fix, though, the PNP has to confront the wider perception of corruption during its 18 years in office. This is often a danger of a long incumbency where office holders grow arrogant and suffer from goal displacement. They misplace the initial offer of service for private ownership of public resources.
It is critical, therefore, that the PNP's leadeship take a hard, cold look at their party, determine where they have gone wrong and commit themselves to return to core values. The process will be uncomfortable, even painful, but necessary.
But in a society noted for corruption, this is an issue that confronts not only the PNP or, for that matter, only political parties.
The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.
published: Friday | February 29, 2008
We are surprised that there is, or seems to be, much hand-wringing on the part of the People's National Party (PNP) on how to deal with Kern Spencer, the former junior energy minister, and MP for North East St Elizabeth.
Mr Spencer has been charged with fraud and corruption in relation to his management of the distribution of light bulbs that were given by Cuba for free delivery to Jamaicans. Others with whom the police allege Mr Spencer colluded have been similarly charged.
He eventually sought leave from the House of Representatives - as we had suggested - while he fights his case. He has also resigned from his posts in the party.
With regard to Mr Spencer specifically, the PNP's option at this time is quite simple. The party must allow the law to take its course.
This newspaper has made it quite clear that it is pleased that the investigation on the light bulb affair took place - by the auditor general, the contractor general and the police. We are happy, too, that the police themselves decided to lay charges against Mr Spencer and the others, rather than submitting a file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for its ruling.
They clearly felt that a prima facie case had been made and decided to take action, rather than ducking behind the DPP in an attempt to evade responsibility. Hopefully, this was to send a signal that no one is above the law and that all can expect equal treatment from its agencies of enforcement. If we are right, this display of confidence by the constabulary is encouraging.
But the charges laid against Mr Spencer and the other persons are allegations which the police and the office of the DPP must pursue with rigour.
We, however, believe in the principle of justice and firmly subscribe to the legal code that assumes an individual innocent until he is proved guilty in a court of law and would have had a fair opportunity to rebut the claims of his accusers.
That is essentially the approach we expect the PNP to adopt towards Mr Spencer, which is neither to deny nor embrace his alleged conduct. That approach does not deny the party the right to offer legal assistance to a member to mount his defence. The same should apply to anyone else who might be charged in this or any other case.
It is for this reason, too, that we would advise those in the administration who have pronounced publicly on the case to avoid appearing to gloat and to give the impression that the charges amount to guilt.
Beyond Mr Spencer's specific legal fix, though, the PNP has to confront the wider perception of corruption during its 18 years in office. This is often a danger of a long incumbency where office holders grow arrogant and suffer from goal displacement. They misplace the initial offer of service for private ownership of public resources.
It is critical, therefore, that the PNP's leadeship take a hard, cold look at their party, determine where they have gone wrong and commit themselves to return to core values. The process will be uncomfortable, even painful, but necessary.
But in a society noted for corruption, this is an issue that confronts not only the PNP or, for that matter, only political parties.
The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.