THE YOUTH arm of the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) has asked that Government provide reasons for the recall of Burchell Whiteman as the country's high commissioner to London.

The PNP Youth Organisation (PNPYO) has taken issue with the response of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) General Secretary Karl Samuda, who told the disgruntled Labourites during an Area Council One meeting on Sunday that Whiteman would be recalled come January 2010.

Obvious intent

The youth arm of the PNP described as "very discon-certing" calls for JLP supporters to remove PNP supporters from key positions in the public service.

"While the obvious intent to victimise supporters of the People's National Party is a major concern, this is exag-gerated by the manner in which statements such as those made by Minister Samuda," the PNPYO said in a statement yesterday.

Samuda told the meeting that despite being a former PNP general secretary and government minister, Whiteman was doing a good job.

"But that is not to say he will be there forever. The fact is that he will return in January and we will be appointing a new high commissioner to London in January," Samuda said.

However, the PNPYO has said it has noticed a trend where many public sector workers "have been dismissed for no concrete reason".

"We, the members of the PNPYO, find the Government to not only be trying to rid the public sector of non-JLP supporters, regardless of the ineptitude of those slated to replace them, but also that the Government is seeking to remove all public servants who don't subscribe to being the lackeys of the Government," the organisation said.

According to the PNPYO, the context in which the announcement of Whiteman's tenure was made suggested he was being called home because of his political stripe.

Important characteristic

"... it is only fair to assume that his replacement's most important characteristic is that he/she is an ardent supporter of the JLP."

However, in seeking to clarify Samuda's statement, the Govern-ment yesterday explained that it was the usual practice that ambassadors and high commissioners are not accredited to any one country for more than three years.

"In the case of Mr Whiteman, he was appointed high commissioner to Britain in January 2007 and his three-year tour of duty comes to an end in December 2009," a release from the Office of the Prime Minister stated.