GENERAL Secretary of the People’s National Party (PNP) Peter Bunting is demanding the removal of National Security Minister Dwight Nelson from the Holness Cabinet.
The Opposition’s call came on the heels of a press conference on Thursday during which Prime Minister Andrew Holness admitted that a US surveillance aircraft provided assistance to local security forces in the May 24 operation in West Kingston.
The disclosure by the Government came after strident denials by other members of the administration.
At a press conference held at the PNP’s Old Hope Road headquarters in Kingston yesterday, Bunting challenged the prime minister and his national security Minister Dwight Nelson to ‘come clean’ with respect to Nelson’s knowledge of the type of assistance which was provided by the United States Government. The Opposition said there was too much discord between Nelson’s account of the US involvement and the disclosure made by the prime minister on Thursday.
“With respect to his suitability, and the fact that he holds a position of trust, it is clear that he is not trustworthy or not competent, so we are calling on the prime minister to replace him, or for him to resign,” said Bunting, who also argued that there remains several unanswered questions regarding the issue.
The call is in response to claims by both Nelson and the prime minister that the National Security Minister did not have specific details on the type of surveillance that the US Government provided on May 24 last year.
Bunting, who was flanked by other high-ranking members of the party, suggested that it was inconceivable for the country to be told that the national security minister was not aware of the details relating to the use of the aircraft.
According to the PNP general secretary, there was a meeting of the country’s Defence Board on May 23 and Nelson, in his capacity as minister of national security would have to be in attendance.
“Our information is that a meeting was held and that either or both minister Dwight Nelson and his permanent Secretary attended that meeting,” said Bunting who said the meeting was the forum used to grant permission for the United States to provide assistance.
He was supported by his Opposition colleague, K D Knight, who explained that the security minister, prime minister, Chief of Defence Staff and the permanent secretary in the Ministry of National Security are members of the Defence Board.
The PNP spokesman said the party had no issue with the assistance provided by the United States Government but remains curious about the reason why the Government of Jamaica chose to withhold the information.
Bunting’s theory is that the Government’s reluctance to come clean on the matter was due to the fact that the assistance from the United States had similarities to a controversial Memorandum of Understanding which the Patterson administration had signed with the United States.
The JLP administration has consistently poured scorn on the agreement which was spearheaded by then National Security Minister, Dr Peter Phillips, on the basis that it violated the constitutional rights of Jamaicans.
