Christie blasts Observer

[Baddaz]

CONTRACTOR General Greg Christie yesterday accused the Observer of trying to instruct him how to do his job and suggested that the newspaper wanted a return to the days when "the award of government contracts were permitted to run rampant under the cover of darkness".

In a caustic reply to yesterday's editorial in which the Observer urged Christie not to publicise specifics of his reason to investigate matters within his remit, the contractor general asked whose interest is being served when a lucrative Government contract award, which exhibits patent signs of irregularity or impropriety, is kept under the blanket of darkness?

CHRISTIE… the OCG is an independent and quasi-judicial anti-corruption commission of the Parliament of Jamaica


Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1ChGaxo4t

[Farmah]

Have to totally back the CG on this one. Sustained transparency in these matters help to curtail impropriety and corruption at the snow-collar level..

[Farmah]

Have to totally back the CG on this one. Sustained transparency in these matters help to curtail impropriety and corruption at the snow-collar level..

[Willi]

Christie seems on solid ground here....

[Don1]

But Christie insisted that the public announcement by the OCG of the commencement of its special investigations, and the giving of its reasons for the probe "are deliberate and standard OCG operating procedures which can be traced as far back as to October 10, 2006, when the OCG launched a special investigation into the then widely published allegations of impropriety and corruption which were made by the then leader of the opposition and current prime minister of Jamaica, the Hon Bruce Golding, in the Trafigura Beheer matter".

Christie said it was "instructive to record that, at the time, the Observer did not take the OCG or the then leader of opposition to task on the matter, but instead assisted in further publishing the allegations, although they were just that — unproven allegations".

Glad fi si dat nat evvybady blind to di Newsletta media manipulation... Greg speaks Truth to Powa...

[Assasin]

The observer can't be an independent entity in this one even if they try as their parent company is involved.

If it was a different company involved(say SuperClubs) they would have been singing a different tune.

But even worst they are "suggesting how the man fi do his job."

[Don1]

The observer can't be an independent entity in this one even if they try as their parent company is involved.

"Can't"??... are you aware of the ethical & professional standards the press should aspire to?

Low expectations create low standards... raise the bar

[Assasin]

It is impossible for the parent company to be involved in such a case without any bias from the paper itself. You think the editorial is going to support the contractor general in this case? Regardless of what ethics and responsiblity you a go tell me about.

[Don1]

It is impossible for the parent company to be involved in such a case without any bias from the paper itself. You think the editorial is going to support the contractor general in this case? Regardless of what ethics and responsiblity you a go tell me about.

What you say is true... and the bias goes beyond the editorial page to the actual reportage as Christie indicated.

Peek beneath the surface..

It is true because media standards are low. media standards are low because most Jamaicans accept and expect it as the norm (including you it seems) .... it's a self-fulfilling outcome of low expectations.

Raise the expectation bar...and standards will be raised and we will have less overt manipulation of the press by the owners to defend their narrow personal interests.... made worse because we only have 2 viable dailies...owned by members of the ruling elite...pathetic

Mi glad seh Christie strong enuff fi bun dem out..

[Assasin]

Well Christie doing the right thing but don't fool yourself and think NBC not going to defend GE. You saw what FOX did to Sherard(The Department of Argiculture rep)? Whether the media is run by Private Capitalist or Government the same kind of bias get involved if the owner is involved.

Without a doubt Mr. Christie did the right thing.

[Don1]

ok boss

[1of1]

to be fair it seem thats the norm inna babylon, so its not unique to this paper

[Don1]

to be fair it seem thats the norm inna babylon, so its not unique to this paper

it's the norm for low level newspapers... mi nuh read dem inna babylon..

but inna Jamaica das all wi gat

[Assasin]

you use to read the Daily News back in the days or try one of the communist bloc paper.

[myYout]

Ah membah when Skeng use to get contract to buil ebryting ah yard, ah wondah ah weh him did deh dem time deh; ah dat deh question Observer fi ask but mi nuh hear dat now. Wi ongle get transparent when nex man ah rule, whapp'n to when odah man didah rule ebryting did opague an nobady not eben business. One rule fi one set an anodah fi di nex set.