(Jamaica Observer) Minister with responsibility for information, Daryl Vaz yesterday refused to disclose whether the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Government was aware that energy minister and member of Parliament for West St Thomas James Robertson was being investigated by the police for some time as was disclosed by the Police High Command.
“I couldn’t answer that. That is a matter for the relevant minister and prime minister,” Vaz said in response to questions from journalists at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House in Kingston.
Vaz said the prime minister noted that the matter was in the hands of law enforcement where it “rightfully belongs”.
“What I can indicate is the allegations are of a very serious nature (that) they have initiated investigations, which I can say by virtue of information received never started yesterday but has been ongoing,” Vaz added.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Leslie Green, who heads the Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), has been appointed by Police Commissioner Owen Ellington to lead the probe into the allegations against Robertson by self-styled activist Ian Johnson.
Johnson made the damning allegations in court documents in the United States, where he is seeking political asylum. He has also alleged that his mother was murdered in a reprisal killing and that attempts were made on his life three times.
The police have already collected a statement from Johnson and have taken steps to ensure his safety.
But yesterday Vaz pointed out that throughout the duration of the investigations concerning Robertson, the allegations have remained ‘just that’ as there had been no evidence to substantiate the claims.
As such, Vaz said that the Government would allow the investigations to run its course while it awaits the findings.
Vaz also would not divulge what Robertson’s explanation was to his Cabinet colleagues when prime minister Bruce Golding placed the matter on the table at a party meeting on Monday night or when the matter was discussed at Cabinet earlier in the day.
“I am not privy to discuss what Robertson said at Cabinet, but by virtue of his statement through his lawyers that says everything. He has dismissed it and rubbished it so now the onus is on those making the allegations and investigations to prove otherwise,” he insisted.
However, Vaz said the prime minister noted that the matter was in the hands of law enforcement where it “rightfully belongs”.
