Golding Defends Bunting’s Police Federation Comments

Opposition Leader, Mark Golding, has defended comments made by his Spokesman on National Security, Peter Bunting, at the recent Police Federation conference.

Mr. Golding was responding to a letter from national security minister, Dr. Horace Chang.

Dr. Chang wrote to the Opposition leader on Tuesday, noting that he deemed Senator Bunting’s comments to be dangerous and a representation of political interference.

Daina Davy reports.

During his address at the conference earlier this month, Senator Bunting said former Police Federation chairman, Corporal Rohan James, was being muzzled as he was not given leave to attend the function.

Corporal James is currently before the courts after being interdicted by the high command.

Dr. Chang, in his letter to Mr. Golding, a political representative agitating on behalf of a specific individual officer against the high command in such a manner was problematic.

The national security minister noted that such behviour breaches the lines of separation between policy and political interference.

But the Opposition leader, in an open letter addressed to the security minister on Wednesday, disagrees. Mr. Golding says Senator Bunting addressed critical issues.

The Opposition leader says these issues included what he describes as the unjust and unconstitutional interdiction of Corporal James.

Mr. Golding says the action appeared to be a blatant attempt at union busting, demoralising the rank and file and undermining the Federation’s role as the advocate for police welfare.

He says it also raises questions about the accountability of the high command, which failed to promptly implement the court’s directives.

The Opposition leader says the high command’s punitive action against the federation’s leadership for performing this role was petty, vindictive, and intolerant.

He says Dr. Chang’s suggestion that public commentary on these issues crosses a line is misplaced and unfortunate.

Mr. Golding says the Opposition’s advocacy is aimed at ensuring a fair and just system, where the rights of police officers are upheld and where their leadership is empowered to advocate on their behalf without fear of retribution.

Mr. Golding says Bunting’s remarks were appropriate and in keeping with the Opposition’s constitutional responsibility to the Jamaican people.

Mr. Golding ended his letter urging Dr. Chang to reconsider the actions taken against Corporal James, and also to address the broader issues of accountability within the High Command.