Jamaicans protest Cross Roads over US TCN deal and calls for Wheatley’s resignation

Advocate says protesters want transparency and accountability from gov’t

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Scores of Jamaicans dressed in yellow gathered in Cross Roads, Kingston on Tuesday, calling for greater government transparency and accountability, while demanding action on several national issues. Protest organiser Kay Osborne said the demonstration was centred on three key issues: the Government's proposed third-country national (TCN) agreement with the United States (US), concerns surrounding the Integrity Commission's (IC) findings involving Government Minister Dr Andrew Wheatley, and the management of Hurricane Melissa relief funds. READ: WATCH: Jamaicans protest TCN agreement, demand Wheatley’s resignation She said protesters were calling for greater transparency, accountability and adherence to democratic principles, arguing that the Government has not adequately explained why more than 98 per cent of the relief funds remained unspent eight months after the hurricane. "There's a lot of speculation going on that drives fear in the people. We don't want that to happen. We want clear and proper information instead of four or five different explanations. That can't drive confidence into the people," she said. Osborne also criticised the Government's handling of the Integrity Commission's investigation into Dr Wheatley, arguing that the minister should step aside while the legal process unfolds. "The Government's obligation is to support the findings of the Integrity Commission. The decision is not final, it goes to the director of public prosecutions, then to the courts. People are innocent until proven guilty, but a senior government minister under a cloud should be moved out of Government until the matter is settled in order to preserve trust in the institutions and trust in the Government," she said. She further alleged that keeping the minister in office undermines public confidence. "We're demanding that he be allowed the privilege of going through the justice system and see where it can end up, because that's how our democracy is supposed to work." According to Osborne, the demonstration also highlighted concerns stemming from the Auditor General's report, which protesters argued should not be ignored. She said the protest attracted supporters from across the political divide. "We invited both sides, the green and the orange. We invited the church and everybody, and everybody bundled up. We're glad for it because we are Jamaicans standing up for Jamaica," Osborne said. — Sandena James Protesters demonstrate along Cross Roads in Kingston on Tuesday morning, calling for the resignation of Cabinet minister Dr Andrew Wheatley and demanding greater transparency from the Government over its agreement with the United States to temporarily receive third-country deportees. (Photo: Karl Mclarty) (Photo: Karl Mclarty) (Photo: Karl Mclarty) (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

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WATCH: Jamaicans protest TCN agreement, demand Wheatley’s resignation

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Protesters gathered in Cross Roads on Tuesday to voice opposition to the Government's agreement with the United States (US) to temporarily receive third-country nationals (TCN), while also demanding the resignation of Government Minister Dr Andrew Wheatley following adverse findings by the Integrity Commission (IC). Protesters demonstrate along Cross Roads in Kingston on Tuesday morning, calling for the resignation of Cabinet minister Dr Andrew Wheatley and demanding greater transparency from the Government over its agreement with the United States to temporarily receive third-country deportees. (Photo: Karl Mclarty) Addressing the group, organiser and head of Jamaicans for Justice Kay Osborne said the issues reflected a broader crisis of confidence in the Government. “Jamaica is in a crisis. We are in a crisis of governance, we're in a crisis of trust. We do not trust the Government's word, we don't trust them to tell us anything straight... to tell us the truth," she said. Head of Jamaicans for Justice Kay Osborne addresses demonstrators during a protest at Cross Roads in Kingston on Tuesday morning, where civil society groups called for the resignation of Dr Andrew Wheatley and demanded greater transparency over the Government's third-country deportee agreement with the United States. (Photo: Karl Mclarty) Osborne criticised the Government's handling of the TCN agreement, arguing that the memorandum of understanding (MOU) was negotiated without public disclosure. "The deportee deal, they signed an MOU in secret and we wouldn't know anything about it if it were not for the Gleaner who essentially burst the story,” she said. She also questioned Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness' decision to retain Wheatley in the Cabinet despite the Integrity Commission's findings. Former senior superintendent of police Steve McGregor stands among demonstrators during Tuesday morning's protest at Cross Roads in Kingston, where civil society groups and Opposition supporters called for the resignation of Dr Andrew Wheatley and greater transparency over the Government's third-country deportee agreement with the United States. (Photo: Karl Mclarty) An IC investigation report, tabled in Parliament last Wednesday, found that Wheatley possessed assets, disproportionate to his lawful earnings, valued at approximately $164 million, and failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the discrepancy. READ: WHEATLEY’S WOES Although Wheatley has strongly rejected the findings, calls for his resignation or removal from the Cabinet have continued to grow. Those urging action include Opposition members and the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ). READ: Pressure mounts: PSOJ calls for PM to remove Wheatley from ministerial duties On Friday, attorneys representing Wheatley sought permission from the Supreme Court to apply for a judicial review of the Integrity Commission's recommendation. He is the second Cabinet member to head to the court to challenge a ruling of the IC. Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness is now before the court for a judicial review of the IC’s report on his statutory declarations. READ: Wheatley heads to court "The action that the prime minister has kept him in the Cabinet is the important thing because even the conservative PSOJ have said that is not right,” Osborne said at the protest. Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Julian Robinson, who was also present at the protest, echoed calls for the Government to make the agreement public. “We have come out here to demonstrate, to voice our opposition to the agreement the Government has entered into with the US to bring what I will call persons into the country. We don't know the terms of this agreement. We know nothing about it. The Government has been hiding it, quite frankly, and so we want that agreement to be tabled in Parliament so we know what the Government has signed up on,” he said. He also renewed calls for Wheatley to step down from the Cabinet. Meanwhile, veteran law enforcement officer, former senior superintendent of police Steve McGregor expressed concern that the TCN programme could have implications for crime if not properly managed. “They are prime candidates for our gangs to recruit, to make it more difficult for our JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force) people,” McGregor said, adding, "I am happy that civil society is speaking out in the way they are today." National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang has said the initial group of TCNs will comprise 25 English-speaking migrants and that the arrangement would end if they remain in Jamaica. However, critics have continued to demand that the memorandum of understanding be made public and tabled in Parliament. READ: Defining deportees (Video: Llewellyn Wynter)

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