A 64-year-old, barely functionally literate lady remarked, "Me a dunce and even me can si seh ah someting else why dem fire Mr Latibeaudiere." The reason the Government gave for firing the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) governor is totally lame and insults our intelligence. Absolutely no one is buying it and it makes this administration look secretive, dishonest and disrespectful of our people.

As far back as I can recall, in spite of protestations, queries and calls for an explanation, the BOJ governor always enjoyed favour with whichever government was in power - evidenced by his top-paying job with wonderful allowances and perks. This was never a secret or an administrative issue, yet the Government would have us believe that his pay package was suddenly a problem, so great a problem that they claim that they had to fire him immediately. Now, this obvious attempt at deception leaves us to speculate on several things, all of which give the Government a failing grade when it comes to competency and trust.

Inept government

We can speculate that this administration had no clue about the BOJ governor's remuneration package and fantastic perks that cost us many millions annually. If that is so, then we are being managed by an extremely inept government. Such a financial outlay should never go unnoticed and would be indicative of astounding incompetence - someone should be held accountable for the oversight.

Conversely, we can speculate that they knew about the BOJ governor's remuneration package, thought it excessive but left it alone ... until now. If that is so, then we are being managed by an extremely laissez-faire government. To be aware of his salary package, think it excessive yet do nothing about it (especially in a 'poor' country such as ours) is administrative malpractice and someone should be held accountable.

Finally, we can speculate that this administration knew about the BOJ governor's remuneration package but kept the knowledge in reserve for an occasion such as this when they want Latibeaudiere to step aside to make way for someone else who would get with their programme. If that is so, then we are being managed by an extremely sneaky government. For the powers-that-be to have known all along about the heavy spending on that one individual but reserve it as their trump card reeks of subterfuge.

Nonsensical

Berating the governor's salary package now is silly and has left Jamaicans convinced that the Government is lying and treating us like a set of imbeciles. It's so nonsensical to use that poor excuse to fire the (very experienced) governor now, at this critical time in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) negotiations, that, obviously, there's another undisclosed reason for this extreme action.

This poorly conceived ploy has backfired. Bad enough that the move may jeopardise the IMF negotiations but the governor must now be paid off handsomely and his replacement must also (but not similarly) be well paid. Tragically, we are left to wonder what other drivel has been fed to us, and this is what troubles me the most about this sordid affair. Now, we will never know the truth about anything. Conspiracy rather than transparency seems to be the order of the day.

Our people are suffering, frustrated, frightened and badly in need of courageous, forthright, honest leadership. If nothing else, especially in these trying times, at the very least, we should be able to trust our government - obviously, this isn't so. We must now add governmental betrayal of our trust to our long list of problems.

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Feedback may be sent to garthrattray@gmail.com or columns@gleanerjm.com.