‘A slap in the face of Jamaicans’

GOVERNMENT Senator and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) communication task force member Marlon Morgan is describing as a slap in the face of every Jamaican taxpayer the hasty conclusion by People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding that the party’s Region 3 Chairman Dennis Gordon’s company, JACDEN, broke no law in the unfolding University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) tax exemption “scandal”.

In a media release on Monday Morgan argued that, “following months of sustained pressure, the PNP president put out a belated statement to the media on the Dennis Gordon/JACDEN UHWI tax exemption scandal and twice asserted that, from his perspective, no law was broken by Gordon or JACDEN”.

According to Morgan, by Gordon’s own admission — in an article published by theJamaica Observeron Sunday — over many years some entities have used UHWI’s tax-exemption status in order not to pay taxes that they would have otherwise been required to pay on equipment and other items which have been imported on their behalf.

“It is common knowledge, as was confirmed by the auditor general, that the use of another entity’s tax-exempt status to evade paying taxes is unlawful and inappropriate. Possible breaches of the tax laws, the Proceeds of Crime Act, and the Customs Act are relevant.

“For the PNP president, who is a senior attorney-at-law, to, in those circumstances, state that he is not aware of any law being broken is to deliver a perverse slap in the face of all well-thinking Jamaicans. Golding’s approach to this scandal, which has engulfed his Region 3 chairman, has shattered any credibility which he professed to have in treating with matters of probity, transparency, and accountability,” argued Morgan.

He pointed out that it is a matter of public record that investigations by law enforcement agencies are taking place in respect of not only dialysis machines which Gordon’s company used UHWI’s tax-exempt status to import.

Morgan charged that law enforcement agencies are also probing a case of $30 million worth of furniture which UHWI used its tax-exemption status to import, but the items were reportedly transported immediately elsewhere.

“To make matters worse, Dennis Gordon’s utterances in the print media, where he appears to suggest that the unlawful practice of using another entity’s tax-exemption status to import items and evade paying relevant taxes is normal and ‘no big deal’, confirm that he is unsuited to be a lawmaker.

“Gordon’s move to step down as a member of the Public Accounts Committee and as a [PNP] Shadow Cabinet member, after sustained pressure mounted, is not enough. His appalling, arrogant, and contemptuous approach to these fundamental issues of governance and probity reconfirms that his position as a lawmaker is grossly untenable,” declared Morgan.

In a media release on Sunday Golding said based on the facts made available to him, he has seen nothing to suggest that JACDEN has broken any laws, but nevertheless, Gordon will step aside from the PAC and the Shadow Cabinet with immediate effect, pending the completion of ongoing investigations.

“This situation with JACDEN has emerged in the public domain within the context of the many serious findings of maladministration at the University Hospital of the West Indies in the auditor general’s report,” Golding said.

“I believe it is essential that we consistently demonstrate our party’s commitment to high standards of probity in public affairs, and due respect for the spirit of the Leadership Code of Conduct that our Members of Parliament (MPs) and senators have all signed,” added Golding.

He said the PNP’s Integrity Commission will look into the matter closely and provide its recommendations.