THE ADMISSION by the Prime Minister that the Intelligence Unit headed by a civilian was set up without the knowledge, consent and approval of the Ministry of National Security or any other arm of the Government is most alarming.
This Intelligence Unit, according to the allegations, has been responsible for wire-tapping the telephones of private citizens, members of the Police Force, ministers of Government and the Prime Minister himself. For the public to now learn from Mr. Patterson's statement in Parliament that this was tantamount to a rogue operation, uncommissioned and unsanctioned by the Government leaves us to wonder who is in charge.
But should the matter of this agency end with the Prime Minister's admission? Surely the public has a right to know who created the agency, the mandate that it received, and all the work that it did before the services of the person who headed it were dispensed with. Who authorised payment for its operation and provided the paraphernalia and other resources for such a sophisticated undertaking?
Is it sheer coincidence that last month the Minister of National Security and Justice, Mr. K.D. Knight, told a forum in Montego Bay that it was the intention to establish what he described as a civilian intelligence gathering agency? According to the Minister this agency would not replace the intelligence-gathering unit of the police but would complement it. And Mr. Knight even told the PNP annual conference about this Voluntary Special Constables unit.
In an editorial comment at the time we expressed concern about the need for such an agency, warned about the risks of abuse of the rights of the individual and urged the Minister to have public debate before proceeding.
Minister Knight should explain at this stage if there is a link or connection, between that proposed agency and the one that was already in operation at 62 Lady Musgrave Road and headed by a civilian, Mr. Roderick "Jimmy" McGregor.
It was this civilian the Prime Minister told Parliament that he had given instructions to be fired "several weeks ago". The nation should be told the answers to these questions.
The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner.
