Mark Wignall | Deportation realities

“My friend Mark. Good morning. How are things on your end?” My friend was plainly in the mood to lay out a reality as he saw it. “Here in upside down America it is quite interesting and more than complex. As an attorney who practices immigration law, I am extremely busy. We communicate quite often so you would know this. People are very scared, are not in the mood to just accept what they first hear is the best solution. The reality is they want the best solutions for their US immigration problems.

“As for Jamaica, I read in the May 28 Gleaner that Minister Chang stated that the US informed Jamaica that some 4,000 deportees are ready to be sent to Jamaica. Again, we have spoken about this before.

“By now we fully know why Mr Rubio came to Jamaica to discuss Cuban doctors. What Rubio really did was tell PM Holness and the Jamaican delegation that Jamaica must take the deportees and make no fuss about it and the US will not make a fuss about the Cuban doctors. There is your quid pro quo.”

Ask yourself this: Who got the better of that negotiation? The US, of course. While Chang sought to downplay that many of the deportees were simply people who violated US immigration law by entering the US without inspection, he conceded that some criminals, including sex offenders, were in the 4,000 coming home. I am certain that the current administration desperately wants those returning to come back after the election. The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) or the People’s National Party (PNP), those people represent voters.

DRILL SAGA

“As for the surgical drill saga, Last week, Minister Tufton made some public remarks about the allegations of Dr Dawes. I beg you, Mark, let us go back to a time when the political air was most foul. That was at a time when politicians gave themselves a gargantuan raise in pay.

“When then PM Holness defended the massive salary increase for MPs and cabinet members, he stated that MPs and Ministers would be expected to perform and perform well. Let us remember that he stressed this. I can remember that many JLP supporters were quite vexed and told me that they were done with the party, To date PM Holness has revealed no code of conduct for MPs or Ministers in place.

“One would have thought that he would have backed this up, time and again by forcing key ministers to a better performance level.

“Let’s come back to the drill which we were told was acquired in accordance with established procurement procedures. That is all he said. He offered no explanation how the drill that was brought into Jamaica with a declared value of some $250,000 was acquired by the Jamaican government for some $31 million.

“Tufton stated ‘what matters is the process was followed.’ But what if the process is flawed or corrupted?

“How can the surgical drill have a declared customs value of $250,000.but the taxpayers of Jamaica end up paying $31 million for the same drill? So, the government of Jamaica collects duty on a $250,000 surgical drill, but a private company collects a $31 million price for the drill. That is not right.”

Many times at the wharf, there is a world of difference between the basic calculations on the Customs form and that which is finally billed (bill of site). But in most matters, there is always a boss man that can make an immediate decision. Had that been invoked, that final $31 million would not exist.

That seems to be in the ballpark of corruption to me. The minister’s failure to explain this is terrible. Is the minister justifying his massive salary with such a misconceived and disingenuous defence of this sordid affair?

A key question: Has there been any improvement in performance by any member of Cabinet since the massive salary increase? If so, what is it and how has it been coded into the broader performance?

Let’s examine some other important matters. PM Holness still has not filed his IC declarations. Minister Malhoo Forte says that constitutional reform is stalled as the Opposition will not meet. But what more has she done? Minister Chuck only carps about the IC. Minister Chang is “confused”, according to Mr Samuda’s wife. If these individuals had such mediocre performance in the private sector they would be fired. Really.

Mark Wignall is a political and public affairs analyst. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and mawigsr@gmail.com.