Excerpt from the Jamaica Observer column published on Monday, March 14, 2022
By Jean Lowrie-Chin
The statement posted by Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s Twitter page at midnight last Friday was terse: “Late this evening I met with Minister Robert Montague, who tendered his resignation with immediate effect. Minister Montague expressed that it was a privilege to have had the ‘opportunity to serve at the highest levels in Government’. ”
The use of the word minister in this statement is awkward, but the message was clear. After the details laid out in the report by the Integrity Commission’s Director of Investigation Kevon Stephenson, which stated that Montague allowed six people of “questionable character” to be issued with firearms licences, the prime minister had to take this final action.
Stephenson also named former National Security Minister Peter Bunting in his allegations, which have since been denied by Bunting.
It was Bob Marley who sang, “And if your night turned into day, a lot of people would run away.” Well, the day is now 24/7, as digital media has turned nine-day wonders into perpetual pummelling.
The media has pushed some buttons with their repeated use of a photograph showing a close-up of the prime minister and the former minister in what appeared to be an intense discussion. It is regrettable that we did not have this level of oversight in the earlier days of Independence. We know there are still cynical individuals who would have a lot to account for if this country decided to have a Truth Commission.
However, we give thanks for the younger politicians who are taking a clearer path in the service of their country. We applaud Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke’s brilliant budget presentation and the thoughtful response from Opposition spokesman on finance Julian Robinson.
Jamaica Highlights 