by RICKEY SINGH

ALL MEMBER STATES of the Caribbean Community have an obligation to monitor the implications of the unprecedented developments in Jamaica where, in a matter of days, its central bank governor and police commissioner were dismissed.

Revealing undisguised disappointment and bitterness, Prime Minister Bruce Golding told the nation's parliament on Tuesday that both had to go, for different and quite troubling reasons, in the national interest of Jamaica.

In the case of governor Derick Latibeaudiere, the two-year-old Jamaica Labour Party administration decided to terminate his services, with immediate effect, because, said Golding, the salary, multiple allowances and benefits he was receiving were simply "unacceptable, embarassing and repugnant".

In contrast to the high-life cost to maintain Latibeaudiere in his job, "to the insult of Jamaicans" at a period of immense social and economic problems, the resignation demanded of police commissioner Hardley Lewin (formerly rear admiral of the Jamaica Defence Force), was related to his evident inability to curb the rampant criminality afflicting the country, according to Golding.

Together, the dismissals are not unprecedented just for Jamaica, but for the rest of CARICOM. Varying questions and concerns can be expected to surface in cabinets, central banks, ministries of finance and the high commands of police services across the region.

While leaving no doubt about political blame for the contract shaped and approved for the Bank of Jamaica governor, Golding said there was no "hostility" involved in the decision for Lewin to go. He had simply done "too little to curb crime".

In relation to Latibeaudiere, he was earning in basic annual salary JAM$14.05 million (JAM$90=US$1), plus a range of allowances for housing, car, medical and other benefits that totalled, as of September this year, JAM$38.03 million - on the basis of a contract signed by former finance minister Dr Omar Davies of the then People's National Party government.

Research has revealed, said Golding, that the governor was receiving a compensation package not only that was quite "excessive" compared to that of previous holders of that office, but amounted to more than payments to the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of the United States.

Golding has dismissed suggestions that the governor's removal had anything to do with policy differences at a time when he was involved in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a US$1.2 billion loan for Jamaica. Finance minister Audley Chase has criticised Standard and Poor's, the international rating agency, for downgrading the country's credit worthiness in the wake of the firing of Latibeaudiere.

Both the Jamaica Gleaner and the Jamaica Observer have been sharply critical of the contract given to Latibeaudiere and also over concerns over the Central Bank's performances in the face of continuing devaluations of the Jamaican dollar. This is undoubtedly a most troubling season of discontent and uncertainties for the Jamaican people.

The hope is that in their expected responses to the stand taken by the Golding administration on the dismissal of the governor in particular, neither Latibeaudiere nor former finance minister Davies will engage in a public squabble that could further aggravate problems for Jamaica's credit rating or affect current and pending negotiations with the international financial institutions.