Young Jamaica, the youth arm of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), has condemned efforts by the People’s National Party (PNP) to pressure Dennis Chung into not accepting the post of Chief Technical Director (CTD) of the Financial Investigations Division (FID).

On Thursday, May 29, the PNP held a press conference expressing deep concern over the appointment of Dennis Chung as head of the FID, arguing that his public support for Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s actions makes his leadership of the agency—now tasked with investigating serious allegations related to the Prime Minister’s statutory declarations—both inappropriate and unconscionable.

The Opposition Leader, Mark Golding, also expressed concerns regarding Chung’s appointment and called for the FID to be led by someone with integrity and not a politically affiliated individual.

The matter that Golding alleges Chung has defended the prime minister with includes:

• The operation of 28 bank accounts by the prime minister and his companies, with funds totalling over $470 million flowing through them during the investigation period.
• The handling of a non-profit foundation that receives donations for charitable causes from both local and overseas contributors. Allegations suggest that some of these funds were used to purchase financial investments in the name of, and for the benefit of, the prime minister’s personal companies

In each of these matters, Golding said, Chung publicly sought to take a position that led to the impression that there is nothing amiss and there is no case to answer.

In a statement, Young Jamaica said it is aware of attempts by senior PNP members to contact and pressure Mr Chung’s family into persuading him not to accept the appointment, in which he was successful, based on a meritorious selection process piloted by the Office of the Services Commissions (OSC).

Young Jamaica stated that the undue efforts to pressure the legitimate head of a law enforcement division in Jamaica represent another level in the “disgusting lows for the PNP”.

The youth arm further noted that this is a reflection of the desperate efforts by senior members of the PNP to apply undue pressure to civil society and the private sector, while citing that these tactics are unbecoming, unfortunate and unacceptable.

“The PNP’s attack on the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewelyn, their latest attempt to politicise the appointment of the FID head, represents a continuation of their habit of politically victimising office holders who have contributed well to their country,” Young Jamaica added.