Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen says the procedure which led to the appointment of Mrs. Arlene Harrison Henry as Public Defender accords with his commitment to ensure transparency in the selection of senior public servants. He was speaking at the swearing-in ceremony for the new Public Defender at King’s House on Friday (Jan. 16).
“The people of Jamaica must have the assurance that there is no partiality in the process whose outcome should be the appointment of the best possible candidate”, Sir Patrick Allen said.
He expressed appreciation for the seriousness with which the Public Service Commission conducts interviews for such positions in response to his instructions. He added that their views and recommendations, together with expert analytical profiles of the shortlisted candidates, facilitate his selection for the requisite consultation with the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition. “This is a procedure of whose value I am convinced”, The Governor-General stated.
Mrs. Harrison Henry was sworn-in as Public Defender before an audience which included Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, the Attorney General, the Hon. Mr. Justice Lensley Wolfe, Chairman of the Public Service Commission and members of the judiciary and the legal fraternity among others.
In her reply the Public Defender said she humbly accepts the serious charge of protecting the rights of citizens and securing justice for those whose rights have been violated.