Minister of Health Chris Tufton was a naughty boy and deserves to be chastised for allowing his “ friend ‘ to benefit from those Ministry of Health contacts valued at close to $80 million.

He says that the Integrity Commission report vindicates him, but that’s not the view taken by many Jamaicans. There are so many people revulsed and appalled by this Market Me saga.

Tufton should resign, but says he won’t and that he will continue to run the Health Ministry.

As a consequence of the breaches of procurement rules, lack of governance and proper accountability, he will have to present himself before the Speaker of the Lower House, Juliet Holness and explain how he let this happen and why he wasn’t more circumspect.

Tufton knows that only in a backward, tin-pot country like Jamaica could he continue in a senior government position after his “friend” was awarded contracts valued at large sums by his ministry.

In the UK, the deputy prime minister had to go for less. Let’s face it, Jamaica doesn’t have high governance standards, and corruption is embedded in the political fabric and culture of the country. Everyone in Government gets to dip their spoon and enrich themselves and their friends.

Juliet Holness has been a good Speaker of the House of Representatives, and her no-nonsense style is what is needed. She should take Tufton to task, and he needs to be censured.  What presided on his watch was outrageous, and everybody knows it. No mouth full of sugar and fancy words can get him out of this.

For him to stay on means Jamaica is truly a basket case, and international agencies like PAHO and WHO cannot take both Tufton and Jamaica seriously. They will have to think twice before dispensing financial and equipment aid to Jamaica.

With a shortage of beds and Jamaican hospitals in a deplorable state with antiquated equipment, why dole out J$80 million to Market Me just to get people to touch their toes?

Juliet Holness knows this entire saga stinks and that Tufton should do the honourable thing. But since when have Jamaican politicians been honourable?

Indeed, the speaker is caught on the horns of a dilemma.  Her husband, the prime minister, must make the call, and he has not done so, choosing to remain silent on the issue despite the public outcry. Perhaps he agrees with Tufton and is of the opinion that Tufton did nothing wrong and had no hand in the awarding of these contracts.

Perhaps he feels governance and accountability are for more developed countries and that Jamaica must operate in its own way with its unique approach.

That means Juliet Holness cannot take a heavy-handed stance on this. All she can do is admonish Tufton while he looks contrite, then returns to his Government vehicle to spend some time with his “friend”—by all means, welcome to paradise! 

She should put Tufton over her knee and give him a good spanking letting it be known he let both the JLP and the Cabinet down and that what occurred here is unacceptable, leaving it to his conscience to make the right decision on this.

If this were a member of Tufton’s team who approved those contracts with that sort of connection, he would have no choice but to fire that person.

Tufton is expected and should operate at a higher standard. Juliet Holness knows this.

Chris Tufton has not openly declared that he has left his wife. Despite being seen out with Lyndsey McDonnough and all the speculation, he has not said the two are lovers.

For people to do so is supposition and all that brings. All the moral indignation Tufton and McDonnough face means nothing to them—they have never *publicly* defined the nature of their relationship.

They have suffered the slings and arrows of public opinion, but that jurisdiction counts for nought.

This leaves Juliet Holness’s hands somewhat tied. Jamaican politics is not yet at the stage where, if it looks very bad and reprehensible, then you should step down. Tufton said it himself-he didn’t do anything illegal, so why should he pay the price? Why shouldn’t he continue his quest to succeed Andrew Holness?

There may be something in Juliet Holnes that says after this drama, Tufton is not fit to succeed my husband and shouldn’t be allowed to. But Tufton is very well aware given the prime minister’s very own run-in with the Integrity Commission, it would be hypocritical of him to terminate his Minister of Health for a technicality.

“Did Lyndsey McDonnogh win contracts from other government ministries?” Juliet Holness may ask. “ Why was the Ministry of Health so very good to her?” “What did she have that others didn’t?”

Tufton needs to tell McDonnough not to make public announcements and remain silent. Her utterances only inflame an already terrible situation for him. Does she listen to him? Does she heed his counsel? 

Juliet Holness is plain speaking and may well advise Tufton to tell his “friend” to remain quiet if he is to ride this out.

It is curious that none of the leading Government spokespersons have come out to defend and shield Tufton.

Where are Tom Taveres-Finson and Abka Fitz-Henley on this? What does Kiimina Johnson Smith have to say about this situation? What does the wise and venerated Horace Chang opine on this? We haven’t heard a word. Do they all want Tufton to go quietly into the night? Do they want to see a greater distance between Tufton and Lyndsey McDonnough from the JLP, an embarrassment they can do without? 

All this will not escape Juliet Holness’ attention when she meets with Tufton.

She may have to give him six of the best before sending him on his way. Hope his “friend” has ointment in her cabinet to deal with those nasty whelps.