THE EDITOR, Sir:

The issue of Marcia Forbes' credentials or competence for the position of permanent secretary is not in debate here. There may, in fact, be few permanent secretaries in the region who are as professionally or academically endowed as the former corporate magnate who distinguished herself in the local television industry. All things being equal, she would be a prime candidate for the position of chief accounting officer, as the position has been otherwise described, for most government ministries.

All things are not equal here, however. The real issue is the overt partisan activism that is associated with Mrs Forbes, who, as is her right to do, was observed working and campaigning on behalf of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) during the last general elections. A major problem arises when a political activist, however qualified, is appointed to such a sensitive, responsible and highly placed government position, where the hallowed tenets of total impartiality, utmost integrity, and professionalism are resolutely upheld, and are non-negotiable prerequisites.

Crossed the line

Having voluntarily crossed the line of partisan work and affiliation, Mrs Forbes must have known, as many others before her have discovered, that the bearing of one's political entrails would jeopardise her eligibility to any senior position in the public service, which arguably up to now, has endeavoured to be arms length, above board and meritorious in its appointments.

The argument from JLP general secretary, Karl Samuda, that the party had nothing to do with the appointment, but rather the Public Services Commission (PSC), widely misses the point. You will recall that the said PSC was appointed under a cloud of controversy, after the now court-contested sacking of its former members. Jamaicans expect the likes of Samuda, the political genius that he is, to advise the PSC against such a contentious and provocative appointment. Many of us are not even convinced that due process was followed, and that persons who are not politically connected had an equal chance to apply and be considered for the position.

Standard of conduct

Already, blinkered commentators are leaning on the precedent argument, pointing, rightly or wrongly, to alleged political appointments by the PNP while in government. The failings of the past regime, which were trumpeted from every housetop by the JLP in Opposition, cannot now be held up as the standard of conduct for the new government, which made the stamping out of corruption and cronyism one of its platform pillars during the election campaign in which Mrs Forbes assisted greatly.

As we assess the first year of its stewardship, let the Government be clear that an increasingly demanding and cynical electorate (and non-voting majority) are expecting that the quality governance threshold will be lifted, as they so lavishly, and perhaps disingenuously, promised while hunting votes in the silly season.

I am, etc.,

WAT CHING

wat.ching@yahoo.com

Kingston 6