Jamaican MP steps aside in face of corruption case

| 24/08/2012

Daryl-Vaz.jpg(CNS): Jamaica’s shadow minister for ICT has stepped down from his post as a resultof corruption allegations against him. Daryl Vaz of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) stepped down yesterday stating that he would take a leave of absence in the wake of charges of breaching Section 14 (2) of the Corruption Prevention Act. "I have taken this principled position as it is not only the correct course of action but also I would like to distance and minimise the effect on my beloved party as this matter is strictly of a personal nature," the opposition MP for West Portland said. Vaz said he was confident he would be vindicated.

The corruption scandal involves an alleged intervention by the politician in a traffic violation by his friend. Vaz says he had no “ill intent” when he went to a police station and spoke to commanders about dropping a case against businessman Bruce Bicknell.

Senior Superintendent James Forbes and Bicknell appeared in court Wednesday alongside Vaz, where they were charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    that is once more an example whay the Caymanian people must root out those countrified ignorant people out of government.  They do not know the rules of democracy or good governance, It is no surprise why we feel look and smell like one of those corrupt African governments we see in the press. We make our bed Cayman. It is time to choose people with ethics and integrity.

  2. Anonymous says:

    why Mckeeva couldnt be like him!? step aside when he was asked.

  3. Loopy Lou says:

    "I have taken this principled position" – that is the problem with comparing this to Mac.  Mac has no priniciples.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Say what you want about Jamaica, but in this case, all I can say is, Big man ting, he did the right thing by stepping aside, McKeeva, you go there often enough, perhaps next time you're there they can teach you that trick.

    • Anonymous says:

      Please note the fact that all were CHARGED for the offences; including a SENIOR Police Officer. Obviously neither will happen here if it is a politician or UK Cop!

  5. Anonymous says:

    Note that this is an OPPOSITION MP taking a decision to step aside while an investigation is done. He is not part of a Government and assisting in the decision making. Our Government MLA's do not seem to care what they do or how it appears.

  6. Anonymous says:

    It is important to note that the allegations against Vaz started off with a business man allegedly offering to bribe a policeman with JA$2,000 (equivalent of CI$20.00) not to issue him a traffic ticket.

    Yet around here, we have cases involving hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and dynamite, yet, the UDP party sees no reason why their leader should even give up 1 of his Ministerial responsibilities.

    The shame of it all, where is the honor, where is the ethics? I know one thing, come May 2013, I intend to vote to get these "logs" out of the eye of my beloved Cayman.

  7. Peanuts says:

    Could it be that the worm is turning, could it be that at long last the light is dawning?

  8. Anonymous says:

    ummmm McKeeva take note.

  9. Anonymous also says:

    Hmmm, Should our Premier do the same?  It would be the Honorable thing to do.

    • Anonymous says:

      Our premier is only honorable for the rest of eternity, that doesn't include his current lifetime.

  10. Anonymous says:

    At least Vaz has the decency to do the right thing when faced with corruption allegations. Of course the allegations against him are much less serious than those against our premier.

  11. Anonymous says:

    Sounds similar in circumstances to the dynamite matter, doesn't it?