– The changes are in alignment with the Pensions (Public Service) Act, promulgated in 2017, which sought to, among other things, gradually increase the retirement age of public officers to 65 years.
By Chris Patterson
KINGSTON, Jamaica, (JIS) – The government says the decision to extend the retirement age for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Auditor General was done within the law.
“The government acted constitutionally. There is no question about the legal process that the government put forward. What is clear to the government is that the opposition is carrying out a personal vendetta against an individual,” minister without portfolio in the office of the prime minister with responsibility for information, Robert Morgan, has said.
Morgan was responding to a question at today’s (August 9) post-cabinet press briefing about the legal challenge being brought against the move.
Last month, legislation was passed in both Houses of Parliament to raise the age of retirement for holders of the offices of the director of public prosecutions and auditor general from 60 to 65 years.
Morgan said the government awaits the court’s ruling but maintains that the decision was in keeping with the prescribed procedures.
“They have filed a claim in relation to one individual when the law was changed to affect two individuals. The public need to ask themselves, why target this person? They have not provided any evidence of impropriety. They have not provided any evidence of inappropriateness of behaviour,” he said.
Morgan said most persons in the legal fraternity who have given an appraisal of the work of this individual have spoken about the transformative approach that this person has taken to the office.
The changes are in alignment with the Pensions (Public Service) Act, promulgated in 2017, which sought to, among other things, gradually increase the retirement age of public officers to 65 years.
