Online poll Charge before a resignation

Some poll takers still believe in innocent until proven guilty in a court of law 

Calls for Premier McKeeva Bush to step down because of an ongoing police investigation into possible corrupt activities that occurred in 2004 don’t have the support of a majority of respondents to last week’s caycompass.com online poll. 

The poll, however, was not specifically about Mr. Bush, but asked about elected representatives implicated in crimes in general. 

Suggestion 

Of the 555 total respondents to the poll, only 143 of them – 25.8 per cent – thought an elected representative should step down if under investigation for a crime that could lead to imprisonment.  

“Any suggestion of impropriety at the elected or administrative level is potentially damaging to the Islands’ reputation as a financial centre,” said one person. 

“Government workers are put on mandatory leave if they’re being investigated,” said someone else.  

“This should apply even more so to the so-called big shots; they are not above the law, although many of them think they are.” 

Rumour 

An additional 15 people – 2.7 per cent – thought elected representatives should step down as soon as there’s a rumour they committed a crime. 

“They immediately need to step down, no questions asked,” said one person. 

The large majority of people wanted a higher threshold before the representative stepped down. 

Charges 

The largest segment of respondents – 209 people or 37.7 per cent – thought the representative should be charged with a crime that could lead to imprisonment before stepping down. 

“I would have to say it depends on the seriousness of the crime, how and why the investigation is being driven, the consequences of being found guilty and the effect such crime has on one’s ability to carry on in the position,” said one person. 

“Once a politician is charged with a crime, they should temporally step down until such time as judgment by courts is made and publicised,” said another respondent.  

“If found not guilty, they can then resume the full mantle of their position.” 

“Until they are acquitted of the charges,” said someone else.  

Conviction 

A third of respondents – 185 people or 33.3 per cent – said an elected representative should step down when he or she is convicted. 

“For certain crimes, it might be more appropriate to step down when charged, but generally, I think a person should be considered innocent until proven guilty,” said one person. 

“It depends on the position of the elected representative,” said someone else.  

“If the elected rep is a minister, then it may be required earlier than at the conviction decision.” 

“A person in this country is still innocent until proven guilty,” said another person, adding the provision that if an elected member is charged with murder, he or she should step down at that point. 

Three people – 0.5 per cent – thought a representative should only step down when he or she goes to prison. 

“I chose this option because the conviction could be overturned on appeal and the person would then be innocent,” said one person. 

Next week’s poll question 

How important do you think it is for our elected representatives to be good Christians? 

Extremely important 

Somewhat important 

Not very important 

Not important at all 

I don’t know 

To participate in this poll, please visit www.caycompass.com