National Security Minister, Peter Bunting is to make a statement in the House of Representatives tomorrow as questions are still mounting two weeks after the sudden departure of Police Commissioner, Owen Ellington.
Bunting, has also made the unusual move to respond 14 days early to questions from the parliamentary opposition regarding Commissioner Ellington’s early retirement.
RASHAWN WRAP ( BUNTING ANSWERS EARLY ) JULY 14, 2014
Parliament’s Standing Orders provide for 21 days before answers are forthcoming to questions tabled. The questions were tabled in the House last Tuesday.
A statement from Gordon House today has confirmed that the Security Minister will make a statement to parliament tomorrow.
Gordon House says Minister Bunting will also respond to questions regarding the Police Force and Jamaica’s international partners.
On Monday June 30, the Security Ministry announced via a media release, Commissioner Ellington’s decision to proceed on early retirement.
It was announced that Commissioner Ellington would be proceeding on vacation leave the following day after which he’d head into immediate early retirement.
According to the statement from the Ministry, Commissioner Ellington had referred to the upcoming West Kingston enquiry and the Independent Commission of Investigation, INDECOM’s death squad investigation as contributing to his early departure.
But, amidst mounting speculation and silence from the outgoing Police Chief on whether his US visa has been revoked, the parliamentary opposition’s Spokesman on National Security, Derrick Smith tabled questions in the parliament.
Among other things, Derrick Smith asked Minister Bunting to state whether Jamaica’s international partners demanded that Owen Ellington be removed.
