Monique Hepburn, News Editor
Blythe
WESTERN BUREAU:
FORMER Minister of Water and Housing, Dr. Karl Blythe, says his omission from Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller's Cabinet is because he is "haunted by a ghost from the past ..."
"But what is devastating is that I know not its origin, therefore, I am unable to confront it," Blythe said in a statement issued yesterday. The statement suggests that he was at a loss as to why he was not included in the Cabinet.
Said Blythe: "As one who has a deep abiding faith in God, I can say with a very clear conscience that I know of absolutely nothing that would make me an unfit person to be appointed to anyone's Cabinet."
RIGHT
The statement, under the caption: "Blythe contemplates political future", said the Prime Minister has "exercised her constitutional right in appointing her Cabinet." "I respect same and wish her and her team every success."
Thursday night's announcement of Mrs. Simpson Miller's Cabinet ended months of speculation that Dr. Blythe would have been taken back into the party's inner circle.
However, some political analysts were of the view that he should not have been considered for selection to the Cabinet because of the so-called Operation PRIDE scandal of 2002, which involved the National Housing Development Corporation.
Dr. Blythe was Minister of Water and Housing at the time of the scandal and resigned, although he was not found guilty of any wrongdoing. During the recent PNP Presidential race, former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson defended Dr. Blythe's integrity and reiterated that he was not guilty of any wrongdoing.
Lloyd B. Smith political analyst told The Gleaner that he was disappointed with the exclusion.
"I thought that he would be included on the basis that he has been out in the wilderness for quite some time, and he has been one of the more stable and influential members of Parliament in Western Jamaica for the PNP as a vice-president and a successful Member of Parliament," Mr. Smith contended.
INNER WORKINGS
"I do not know what was going through the mind of Mrs. Simpson Miller as to why he was not given a 'bligh' but clearly the inner workings of the party must have come to the fore."
Blythe is now considering his political future.
He said: "At this critical juncture of my life, I must now seek further counsel with my Heavenly Father, after which I shall consult with my constituents, the party workers in Central Westmoreland, my family and very close friends. At the end of this, I will let the nation know the political future of your humble servant of the people," Blythe said. He added that "my conscience is clear! Please keep me in your prayers. God bless you all richly."
