Mark Golding and Peter Bunting Raise Concerns Over FID Leadership
Kingston, Jamaica — People’s National Party (PNP) Leader Mark J. Golding has echoed concerns shared by Senator Peter Bunting regarding the current leadership vacuum at Jamaica’s Financial Investigations Division (FID). In a tweet posted on September 25, 2024, Golding highlighted the lack of a permanent chief technical director at the FID, following the retirement of its former head, Selvin Hay, several months ago.
“The FID right now does not have a permanent chief technical director. The head of FID is Selvin Hay, who retired a couple months ago. So it only has an acting head now. So there is not even any security of tenure for who is there,” tweeted Golding, sharing Bunting’s remarks.
“The FID right now does not have a permanent chief technical director. The head of FID is Selvin Hay, who retired a couple months ago. So it only has an acting head now. So there is not even any security of tenure for who is there,”
“We can expect that he or she will be… pic.twitter.com/lRAIQJ66Nd
— Mark J. Golding (@MarkJGolding) September 25, 2024
Bunting, a prominent PNP senator, expressed concerns about the potential implications of having an acting head at the helm of the FID, particularly in terms of impartiality and transparency in the oversight of financial investigations. Speaking on the matter, he stated, “We can expect that he or she will be carefully selected, but I think the public is right to be concerned. I think any well-thinking person would be concerned. You cannot investigate yourself. You cannot oversee those who are investigating you. It’s just a basic principle.”
The FID, which plays a critical role in combating financial crimes such as money laundering and terrorist financing, has been operating without a permanent director since Hay’s retirement. The uncertainty surrounding the leadership of the agency has raised concerns about its ability to carry out its mandate effectively and independently.
Both Golding and Bunting have called for the appointment of a qualified and independent leader to head the division, emphasizing the importance of maintaining public confidence in the agency’s ability to function without political influence.
As the PNP continues its push for greater transparency and accountability in governance, the issue of FID leadership is likely to remain a point of contention in the coming months. Supporters of the opposition party have rallied behind the call for change, using the hashtags #wechoosechange and #PeoplesParliament in their social media discussions.
The government has yet to comment on the timeline for selecting a permanent chief technical director for the FID. However, with public scrutiny mounting, the matter is expected to gain traction as Jamaica grapples with the broader issue of good governance and institutional integrity.
