Montague’s Resignation from Cabinet Sparks Other Concerns

Major developments this evening as JLP Chairman and former National Security Minister Robert Montague yesterday tendered his resignation from the cabinet, following an Integrity Commission report into concerns at the FLA. 

Montague’s resignation was confirmed in a statement by the prime minister late last evening in which the prime minister notes the resignation took effect immediately. However, news of the resignation has left some integrity watchdogs calling for even more changes at the FLA and other resignations. No sooner than CVM Live broke the story that the embattled cabinet minister recently shuffled from transport and mining to the ministry of economic growth and job creation had resigned, critics began calling for greater accountability from the Andrew Holness led administration. 

The former minister in a statement says there are some personal matters he has to deal with and will need time and space to treat with these matters. He also mentions he has retained a law firm and is being guided. This after an integrity commission report into the firearm licensing authority found the former security minister and then minister peter bunting both approved firearm licenses on appeal for persons with criminal antecedents. The Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal, JAMP issued a statement late Friday, expressing concerns about alleged instances of abuse of power by those placed in positions of trust. JAMP went further to note that when persons implicated, including officials, retain positions in government and parliament, a clear and unambiguous message must be sent. 

The group is calling on the government to act immediately on the recommendations of the integrity commission, paying particular attention to address operational deficiencies noted at the FLA. It notes the determination must be made as to whether the licences approved on appeal are to be revoked and act immediately. It also urges the government to determine whether former Deputy Chairman Dennis Meadows- accused of misconduct in a public office was indeed so and for further investigations to be launched by the FID and MOCA.

The group is calling for an approval of gun licenses independent from the minister and notes any public official in such act must be suspended pending further investigations. Meantime, on Saturday another civil society entity, Jamaicans for justice, says it notes the minister’s resignation but is calling for greater accountability and structural changes at the FLA amidst the damning report. The group is urging the opposition’s peter bunting also mentioned in the report to follow suit and tender his resignation from the senate.

The JFJ insists further investigations should be undertaken by the major organized crime and anti-corruption agency MOCA, and the financial investigations division, fid to determine culpability and whether charges or sanctions should be laid against both former ministers mentioned in the damning report. It’s also welcoming the decision of the commission to refer concerns about Mr. Meadows to the director of corruption prosecution.