PNP: Applicant with law enforcement background snubbed in FID search
Published:Tuesday | June 3, 2025 | 12:09 AMKimone Francis/Senior Staff Reporter
The opposition People’s National Party (PNP) is alleging that the Office of the Services Commission (OSC) rejected the application of an experienced candidate with intel background in favour of Dennis Chung for the job of chief technical director at the Financial Investigations Division (FID).
PNP General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell said the candidate, who he did not name, previously served at the FID, has three years’ experience at the National Intelligence Bureau, and worked at the then Transnational Crime and Narcotics Division as head.
“They refused that person the job, and they gave the job to somebody who said nothing not wrong with what the prime minister do. It can’t work inna Jamaica,” said Campbell at a PNP meeting in Crofts Hill, Clarendon, on Sunday.
“We are going to protest every day until that change ... . It is a fundamental point about who we are as a country,” said Campbell.
The claim comes amid the controversial appointment of Chung, an accountant, as the FID boss.
The PNP has insisted that Chung is not qualified for the position, and said previous comments made by him dismissing the findings of the Integrity Commission’s investigative report into Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness’ statutory declarations further disqualified him.
The Gleaner reported that 12 years’ experience in law enforcement, five of them at a senior level, was listed as one of the requirements for the post when it was first advertised late 2024, but said it was subsequently removed from a second advertisement published in January.
None of the candidates who had initially applied were selected, and they were told not to reapply for the position.
QUESTIONS REMAIN UNANSWERED
The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service last week announced the appointment of Chung, who assumed the role yesterday.
The Gleaner submitted questions to the OSC last Thursday, enquiring why the requirement for the law-enforcement experience was removed from the second advertisement and who gave the instructions.
The OSC acknowledged receipt of the questions, but said it will be “processed as an access to information (ATI) request. Your request will be processed in accordance with the provisions of the Access to Information Act,” the OSC said in an emailed response on Friday.
Under the ATI Act, public entities have an initial 30-day window to respond to a request.
That can be extended by an additional 30 days.
Yesterday, senior PNP members and supporters protested against the appointment at the National Heroes Circle in Kingston, metres away from the Chung’s office at the finance ministry.
A counterprotest, commissioned by Holness, occurred simultaneously at the location.
“I want every Labourite, wherever you are, to protest in your workplace, to protest in the market, to protest wherever you are against the ‘badmindism’ of the PNP that is going to bring down the progress of the people. Stand up, Labourite! Stand up for justice, stand up for truth, stand up against the PNP,” charged Holness.
But Campbell said the Opposition would not be intimidated by the move.
“We are not afraid. We will not be intimidated by nobody, no day. Protest is the voice of an unheard people. The protest is because the Government is not listening to the people, and nobody is going to stop us from fighting for that which is right ... ,” said Campbell.