By Lynford Simpson, Staff ReporterDR. KARL Blythe, former Water and Housing Minister in the P.J. Patterson Cabinet, has been exonerated from any wrongdoing in relation to the Operation PRIDE/NHDC scandal which rocked the People's National Party (PNP) administration early last year.
Prime Minister Patterson told the House of Representatives yesterday that the former Minister was exonerated based on the findings of former Solicitor-General, Dr. Kenneth Rattray Q.C.
He was responding to questions posed by Andrew Holness, Opposition spokesman on Housing.
Dr. Rattray's findings are contained in a report he submitted to the Prime Minister on November 18 last year. He was asked by the Prime Minister to probe the report of the Angus Erwin-led Commission, the findings of which led to the resignation of Dr. Blythe in April last year.
Ironically, it was Mr. Patterson who had set up the Angus Commission to probe allegations of corruption and massive cost overruns of millions of dollars on Operation PRIDE schemes.
Although the Angus report was damning, painting Dr. Blythe as a Minister who routinely interfered in the day-to-day management of the Operation PRIDE schemes, while "flouting basic guidelines", the Prime Minister had stood by him. He insisted last April that there was nothing in the report that suggested the former Minister had abused his public office for private gain or personal benefit.
"The Minister has told me of his determination to ensure that there is no semblance of blemish on his integrity," Mr. Patterson said then.
Yesterday he said: "From the very outset Dr. Blythe stated his intention to clear his name of any allegation of corruption, or improper ministerial conduct, which is a right that cannot be denied to any holder of public office in a parliamentary democracy".
A vice president of the PNP, Dr. Blythe, Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Central, is one of the party's most senior and influential politician in western Jamaica. He had blasted the Angus commissioners for not taking the time to acquaint themselves with the facts and had vowed to clear his name. But, despite retaining his seat, he was not reappointed to the Cabinet following the October 16 general election.
A special adviser and consultant to the Cabinet Office, Dr. Rattray was asked to "analyse the findings and recommendations of the Angus report". This, according to Mr. Patterson, was so the former Solicitor-General could be properly advised on the appropriate action to take.
He told the House that: "The Rattray examination revealed that there was no incident of ministerial misconduct or any act of personal impropriety by the former Minister of Housing in the execution of his responsibilities under the Constitution or the discharge of his statutory responsibilities as Corporation Sole".
Pointing out that there was no clear distinction between the Minister's responsibilities as it relates to policy and administration, the Prime Minister said the Housing Act of 1969 would be amended to make the Permanent Secretary a Corporation Sole instead of the Minister.
This, as "there should be no blur in the responsibility between policy issues and administrative management".
"The time has come to remove any semblance of conflict," Mr. Patterson emphasised. He said the Housing Minister would retain full responsibility for issuing policy directions.
Mr. Patterson said that by declaring Dr. Blythe exonerated he had not prejudiced the likely outcome of ongoing investigations by the Director of Public Prosecution and the police Fraud Squad with respect to two PRIDE schemes. He said Dr. Blythe was a good Minister.
