Tweet
Government of Jamaica stands by Robertson
Published: Thursday | November 18, 2010 Comments 0
Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party Bruce Golding (centre) in discussion with Deputy Leader James Robertson (right) and Daryl Vaz, during the party's 67th annual conference at the National Arena in December 2005. - file
THE GOVERNMENT seems set to close ranks around embattled Mining and Energy Minister James Robertson; at least, until the police complete their investigations into the damming allegations by one of his former supporters. Robertson is now the subject of a high-level police probe following the release of a sworn statement by St Thomas businessman Ian Johnson, who has linked the government minister to attempts on life, among other criminal actions.
The charges have been dismissed by Robertson, who has labelled them "spurious, unfounded, erratic and self-serving".
But that has not stopped the Opposition People's National Party from calling for the mining and energy minister to be relieved of his Cabinet post while the police investigations take place.
Yesterday, the Government gave its first public response to the issue, which has cast dark clouds over the Bruce Golding administration.
As usual, it was Daryl Vaz, minister with responsibility for information, who faced the music, while indicating that he could not say if or when the prime minister would comment publicly on the matter.
Vaz admitted that the allegations against his Cabinet colleague were worrying, but he argued that there was nothing yet to warrant any action by Golding.
"Whereas the Government and the party see these allegations as serious, we must not move from allegations to conviction until such time as the process takes place," Vaz told journalists at the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing.
He said the issue had been discussed at Monday's Cabinet meeting and during the weekly meeting of senior members of the Jamaica Labour Party, but there was no indication from the prime minister that he would be rushing to take any action against Robertson.
Playing politics
According to Vaz, those persons calling for the resignation of Robertson before the police investigation is done are playing politics.
"It is quite interesting to note where these allegations first arose on Sunday. I would also like to highlight the characters who are involved in this recent round of allegations and note that this is not the first time that allegations have come from those quarters," Vaz charged.
"What I can clearly state is that this Government cannot continue to respond to allegations and the call for resignations because that would be playing into these characters' hands," added Vaz.
He was dismissive of the People's National Party's claim that by relieving Robertson of his Cabinet duties, the prime minister "would remove any perception or possibility of ministerial authority being used to improperly influence the course of the investigations".
"The police have their work to do. They have done their work in other cases and, therefore, they will do their work in this case, regardless of if it is a government member, opposition member or a member of civil society," Vaz said.
Published: Thursday | November 18, 2010 Comments 0
Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party Bruce Golding (centre) in discussion with Deputy Leader James Robertson (right) and Daryl Vaz, during the party's 67th annual conference at the National Arena in December 2005. - file
THE GOVERNMENT seems set to close ranks around embattled Mining and Energy Minister James Robertson; at least, until the police complete their investigations into the damming allegations by one of his former supporters. Robertson is now the subject of a high-level police probe following the release of a sworn statement by St Thomas businessman Ian Johnson, who has linked the government minister to attempts on life, among other criminal actions.
The charges have been dismissed by Robertson, who has labelled them "spurious, unfounded, erratic and self-serving".
But that has not stopped the Opposition People's National Party from calling for the mining and energy minister to be relieved of his Cabinet post while the police investigations take place.
Yesterday, the Government gave its first public response to the issue, which has cast dark clouds over the Bruce Golding administration.
As usual, it was Daryl Vaz, minister with responsibility for information, who faced the music, while indicating that he could not say if or when the prime minister would comment publicly on the matter.
Vaz admitted that the allegations against his Cabinet colleague were worrying, but he argued that there was nothing yet to warrant any action by Golding.
"Whereas the Government and the party see these allegations as serious, we must not move from allegations to conviction until such time as the process takes place," Vaz told journalists at the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing.
He said the issue had been discussed at Monday's Cabinet meeting and during the weekly meeting of senior members of the Jamaica Labour Party, but there was no indication from the prime minister that he would be rushing to take any action against Robertson.
Playing politics
According to Vaz, those persons calling for the resignation of Robertson before the police investigation is done are playing politics.
"It is quite interesting to note where these allegations first arose on Sunday. I would also like to highlight the characters who are involved in this recent round of allegations and note that this is not the first time that allegations have come from those quarters," Vaz charged.
"What I can clearly state is that this Government cannot continue to respond to allegations and the call for resignations because that would be playing into these characters' hands," added Vaz.
He was dismissive of the People's National Party's claim that by relieving Robertson of his Cabinet duties, the prime minister "would remove any perception or possibility of ministerial authority being used to improperly influence the course of the investigations".
"The police have their work to do. They have done their work in other cases and, therefore, they will do their work in this case, regardless of if it is a government member, opposition member or a member of civil society," Vaz said.
Comment