The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) is pressing the government for transparency regarding the appointment of the new head of the Financial Investigations Division (FID). PSOJ President Metry Seaga stated the country should know what led to the change in minimum requirements for the position. The PSOJ has written to the Office of the Services Commissions (OSC) to get clarity on the appointment of Dennis Chung. Chung, a chartered accountant, was appointed head of the FID on June 2 under a two-year, $13.9-million annual contract, despite not having law enforcement experience.
The OSC denied The Sunday Gleaner’s Access to Information (ATI) requests for records that explain the removal of the minimum requirement of 12 years’ law enforcement experience. The original advertisement in November 2024 included the requirement of five years at a senior level. Fitz Bailey, retired Deputy Police Commissioner, was initially selected but declined the offer on January 21, 2025.
Calls for Transparency
Howard Mitchell, a businessman, former PSOJ president, and founding chairman of the Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal, believes transparency is essential to effective management. He suggested people have something to conceal or are playing games with the truth, indicating a need for the government to encourage bureaucrats to release information in the interest of wider society.
Danielle Archer, principal director of National Integrity Action, considers access to information a democratic right. She believes efforts to suppress information, especially in matters of public interest, are symptoms of creeping authoritarianism. Archer questions how the public can trust the government if they are uncertain of its actions.
Legal Exemptions Claimed
Solicitor General Marlene Aldred, from the Attorney General’s Chambers, responded to the ATI requests on behalf of the OSC. She cited legal exemptions under Sections 17(b)(i) and 22 of the ATI Act, which refer to breaches of confidence and disclosures of personal information.
Impact on Public Confidence
Seaga believes the non-disclosure could affect public confidence in the FID head. Mitchell stated that the lack of transparency is going to make Chung’s leadership of that division more difficult and make the job of the Financial Investigations Division more difficult.
Finance Minister Fayval Williams stated on May 30 that the recruitment process was transparent but did not address the changes to the job requirement. The June 3 ATI request sought official correspondence, directives and/or records of communication related to the decision to remove the law enforcement requirement, the name of the individual or office that authorized the change, minutes of discussions, the current job description, Chung’s contract, and any assessment reports. The only documents released were a redacted contract and a redacted score sheet.
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