Ja: Call names let him whistle

MINISTER OF National Security Dr. Peter Phillips yesterday condemned unnamed parliamentary colleagues for links to the illegal drug trade and called on politicians to sever ties with so-called dons involved in violence and drugs.

In his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, the National Security Minister raised concerns that connections to drug money were corrupting individuals in law enforcement and within the political system.

"We cannot send confusing or wrong signals to some of our constituents and to the general public by maintaining such relationships," Dr. Phillips said.

The National Security Minister, promising to speak bluntly about the link between drugs and politics ­ both at the level of Parliament and other layers within the political system ­ said the nation's political leaders have a duty to set the right examples at all times.

"We need to demonstrate to our constituents that we do not need the support of so-called dons, involved in violence, drugs, or worse," Dr. Phillips said emphatically, eliciting a round of desk-thumping on the Government side of the aisle.

If Phillips is the National Security Minister and he knows that his colleagues are involved in the drug trade, he can start the role model ball rolling by having them arrested, colleagues or not. Moreover, he can send a clear signal to his constituents, to all of Jamaica, in fact, by identifying them by name.