Nicholson says nothing wrong with appointment of PC Services chairman

Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter

The Leader of Government Business in the Senate says the appointment of the Parish Council Services chairman who has family connections to the Local Government Minister does not breach any Government policy.

AJ Nicholson was responding to questions posed by Opposition Senator, Robert Montague.

Nicholson said he is not aware of any established policy regarding the appointment of members of commissions and boards, who are family members of ministers of Government.

Nicholson told the Senate that Arscott's brother is married to the cousin of commission chairman Norman Minott.

He also said the minister of finance's wife is a cousin of the father of the chairman of the Commission.

When Montague tabled the questions in November, he told The Gleaner that it was important that when independent commissions make a ruling there’s no "aroma" of collusion or political bias particularly in regard to the employment of civil servants.

Montague today said he raised the matter to sensitize civil servants.

"The commission was set up to remove the aroma of collision," he said.

Like our new Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/gleanerjamaica

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/JamaicaGleaner

editorial@gleanerjm.com