Politically Exposed Persons – Behold the Scales of Justice

Following the removal of 2 ministers from his Cabinet by PM Gaston Browne, as a result of criminal allegations against them, and the prosecution and trial of a further 3 ministers of the former UPP administration, politicians on both sides of the political divide seem to believe they are being uniquely targeted for prosecutorial and judicial attention. Really?

In very recent times the work of Jamaica’s Auditor General, and/or the country’s powerful media, have led to, no fewer than five elected officials of the governing Jamaica Labor Party, being prosecuted or expelled from their party because of alleged criminal or perceived corrupt  activities. These include at least  two former ministers of the crown.

In recent months, no fewer than three major statutory  boards (in Jamaica)  have come under substantial scrutiny. Some of their officials  were forced  to resign and face judicial processes because of alleged corrupt practices. It is instructive to note that, in Jamaica, high officials in the former PNP administration, are required to answer questions in court, relating to the so-called Trafigura Affair. 

Recently, US authorities charged and convicted a minister of the former crown (in Barbados) for criminal wrong doings. Currently, at least 1 former minister of the crown (in Antigua-Barbuda) is believed to be under investigations by national crime authorities in the United Kingdom.

In Haiti, almost 50 people are in police custody because of the assassination of the country’s President by an alleged coalition of political and criminal collaborators.

Truth be told, PEPs or politically exposed people around the world are being held to increasingly higher standards of probity because of their potential to facilitate the takeover of their governments (or statutory bodies) by agents of organized crime and terrorist infrastructures. In the prevailing International environment, politically exposed  persons (PEPs) with a prima facie case made out against them, need  not be surprised if they are called upon to face judicial proceedings. Furthermore, any politically exposed person, who is under active National,  regional or international investigation for alleged activities which could lead to criminal charges should  expect removal from office pending conclusion of any such investigations. 

The world is desperately afraid of the possibility of having to deal with governments taken over by criminal or terrorist elements, acting insidiously or otherwise. Furthermore,  the plunder of State resources is a major contributor to underdevelopment in communities and countries around the world. Overtime, such plunder, left unchecked, will lead to failed states. Witness Haiti,  a fellow CARICOM country.  

Walk good and hold your government and opposition officials accountable – We are only safe if they are clean.