‘No animosity’

Labour and Social Security Minister, Karl Samuda, yesterday emphasised that there was “no animosity” behind his decision to resign from the Andrew Holness-led Cabinet and that his departure should be seen as “an excellent move for strengthening the team”.

The minister on Friday, at the ministry’s awards banquet at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, announced his resignation, which takes effect tomorrow.

Speaking with The Sunday Gleaner yesterday, Samuda said his decision was voluntary and that he had advised the prime minister when he was appointed to the ministry in 2020 that he would only be serving two terms.

Consequently, he stressed that there was no animosity behind his resignation, noting that Holness and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) will continue to have his full support.

“There is no animosity at all. I am in full support of the prime minister’s decision to have a second look at the team and to see where he thinks changes are needed, and as we approach the second half of the term, that is the wise thing for him to do in any event,” Minister Samuda said.

“I have to give the prime minister the option to review his team, refresh his team and put some new players in various places that in his opinion would serve best and would help the party win the next general election.”

He emphasised, “Make no mistake about it, I am still a very strong supporter of the prime minister and the team, I would not like anybody to misinterpret this action in any way. I am still a very strong supporter of the team and will do everything I can to assist.”

Asked if a reshuffling of the Cabinet was on the horizon, Samuda said he could not say, as that was the prerogative of the prime minister.

“I can only say in his own words that there are times when you have to have a look at your team. You’re midway in the term, and all prime ministers do that,” he said.

“You make a value judgement at the commencement of the term and during the course of that term you will take the opportunity to look to see exactly where it can be improved or where changes will bring about a more effective and improved team with new ideas quite swiftly.”

‘COME VERY GOOD, VERY SOON’

Since April there have been talks of a major Cabinet reshuffle, as Holness attempts to energise his administration at midterm, which has been jolted by unfavourable poll results, and begin preparations for the next general election, due in 2025.

Yesterday, insiders told The Sunday Gleaner that several announcements were expected soon, which could come as early as this weekend.

Agriculture and Fisheries, led by Pearnel Charles Jr, and Labour and were two ministries named in which the prime minister was contemplating changes, reportedly not pleased with their performance.

Shake-ups are also reportedly being considered at the Kamina Johnson Smith-led Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; Audley Shaw’s transport and mining ministry; and the education ministry run by Fayval Williams.

According to insiders, considerations are also on the table to deploy Floyd Green, who is currently a full minister in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), to the transport and mining ministry and transfer the incumbent to the OPM.

The prime minister, in a recent statement following the appointment of Dr Dana Morris Dixon and Abka Fitz-Henley to the Senate a week ago, indicated that the changes being made were part of a broader reorganisation, refreshing and revitalisation of the Government.

The two senators replaced Natalie Campbell-Rodriques and Leslie Campbell, who resigned.

“Holness, in fact, the entire JLP team, we have a lot of work to do to win back the people. There has been discontent for quite some time, with the average Jamaican distressed about their economic situation. And now comes this big salary increase for politicians, which only caused the administration to lose the favourability of the populace even more. He has to come with something very good, and very soon, to earn their favour once again – that’s the plan,” a source inside the JLP camp told The Sunday Gleaner yesterday.

In a People’s National Party (PNP) commissioned poll conducted by the Don Anderson-led Market Research Services Limited in February, 28.1 per cent of the respondents said they would vote for the PNP, compared to 27.9 per cent for the JLP.

Back in September 2022, an RJRGLEANER-commissioned Don Anderson poll revealed that 31 per cent of electors would mark their ballot for the JLP, while 18 per cent said they would vote for the PNP.

PREMATURE ANNOUNCEMENT

Ahead of Samuda’s announcement, the labour ministry last Friday had posted a picture on its Facebook page of the minister bidding farewell to Permanent Secretary Colette Roberts Risden and its executive team, with the message “All the best, Minister”.

The photograph was later deleted and since then there has been no word from the OPM about a change in leadership at the labour ministry.

The 81-year-old minister, who is seeking to become the longest-serving member of parliament (MP) in independent Jamaica, said he intends to remain serving in St Andrew North Central. Samuda was first elected in October 1980 and has remained in Gordon House since.

Before being appointed labour minister in September 2020, Samuda was appointed minister of education, youth and information on June 17, 2020. He also served as minister without portfolio with responsibility for education from March 2019 to June 2020.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com