Full Text | Hutchinson removed from Agriculture Ministry
Published:Friday | July 17, 2020 | 12:00 AM
Prime Minister Andrew Holness has stripped embattled minister without portfolio with responsibility for agriculture JC Hutchinson of his duties.
He has now been assigned to the Office of the Prime Minister.
And effective immediately, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Leslie Campbell, has been assigned to the Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries as Minister without Portfolio.
The development follows a Gleaner report about conflict of interest in the Holland sweetheart deal.
READ: Questions surround land arrangement involving partner of Cabinet Minister
READ: Hutchinson fends off calls for resignation
It has emerged that the 2,400 acres of state-owned lands located in Holland, St Elizabeth, are being managed by a company of which Hutchinson's partner, Lola Marshall-Williams, is a director and shareholder.
She has since resigned.
READ: Partner of Cabinet Minister resigns amid concern over Holland sweetheart deal
Their son is also operating a company, Holland Farm and Garden Supplies, on the property.
Documents reveal that Hutchinson was instrumental in helping his partner's company get the approval to manage the lands.
In a statement today, Holness said that while he is satisfied with the intent of Hutchinson's actions, he noted that there were clear breaches of established procedures.
Full Statement
Over the past few days, details of land transactions involving the Sugar Corporation of Jamaica (SCJ) and parties connected to the Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, the Hon. J. C. Hutchinson MP, have been reported in the public media.
As Head of the Government of Jamaica, I am committed to ensuring the highest standards of accountability, probity, transparency, and integrity in the administration of public affairs. Acting in this regard, I have consulted with the Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries the Hon. Audley Shaw, MP and Permanent Secretary Dermon Spence.
In addition, I met with Minister Hutchinson and had frank and meaningful discussions on matters of current concern. Our discussions centred on an examination of the general details of transactions in question, the policy intent behind the transactions, and the administrative and legal requirements of such transactions; analysed against the ethical standards and code of conduct of ministers outlined in Ministry Paper no.19. At the conclusion of our meeting, Minister Hutchinson reaffirmed his commitment to the principles of good governance, ministerial responsibility, and the standards set out in the Code of Conduct.
From my discussions with Minister Shaw, Permanent Secretary Spence, and Minister Hutchinson, I am satisfied that the intent of Minister Hutchinson's actions, which were to make former sugar farm lands available to small farmers, was in keeping with GOJ policy.
Nevertheless, there were clear breaches of established procedures in implementation to provide for transparency, competition and disclosure. The fact that 184 small farmers benefited from having access to the said lands and these farmers are cultivating the lands in an orderly manner, do not, by themselves, cure these breaches.
As such, I have issued the following directions:
1 / The Holland Estate lands should be immediately turned over to the Agricultural Investment Corporation (AIC) without prejudice to the small farmers who would have entered into occupancy arrangements in good faith.
2/ Steps should be taken to terminate any arrangements that allow for non-farm commercial operations on the lands. Any future commercial opportunities on these lands should be advertised and tendered in accordance with GOJ guidelines.
3/ The SCJ is to immediately cease all land transactions that may be in progress including divestments and leases, pending a review by the Cabinet Office to ensure that the procedures followed for proposed transactions are in accordance with GOJ policies.
4/ The SCJ is to provide a historical listing of all land transactions over the last decade, including divestments and leases, with a disclosure of counter-parties and beneficial owners.
5/ Minister Shaw should review the operation and governance of the Rural Agricultural Development Agency (RADA) to ensure that there are no other undisclosed connected-party arrangements in the implementation of any of its programmes, and where such relationships are discovered, to take the necessary action to ensure they are removed.
In addition, effective immediately, Minister J.C. Hutchinson will be relieved of responsibilities he held in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries and transferred to the Office of the Prime Minister. Also, effective immediately, Minister Leslie Campbell will be assigned to the MICAF as Minister without Portfolio.
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