Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Michael Pintard demanded answers about the reassignment of Acting Parliamentary Commissioner, Arthur Taylor on Wednesday.
Speaking with reporters outside of the House Of Assembly Pintard said, “it is my concern that they have moved this gentleman without explaining to the public in a fulsome way what are the underlying issues.”
Pintard called on the Prime Minister or the minister responsible to provide a briefing on the matter. The Parliamentary Commissioner received criticism for delays and ballot errors in the recently held local government elections held earlier this year.
Minister of National Security, the Hon. Wayne Munroe explained, “I was away, returned Monday, when I returned I was advised that Acting Commissioner Taylor had sought and been granted leave to proceed on vacation leave. I’ve been advised that he had written, not to me, but to OPM (Office of the Prime Minister) asking for a transfer. In due course, no doubt, the documents will be forwarded to the ministry and we’ll have a look at them.”
On the handling of the local government elections the minister said, “you can always do a better job at everything. There are no sacred cows in this country. No organization should rise and fall and become disastrous if one person exits. If you find yourself in that position, you have failed. And so just as Commissioners of Police have changed, the Commissioner of Corrections has changed, it would appear that there’s going to be a change in the Parliamentary Commissioner.”
