New finance minister has big shoes to fill – PSOJ
Morris Dixon takes over education and youth, Samuda returns to Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation
Published:Thursday | October 31, 2024 | 12:12 AMSashana Small/Staff Reporter
Declaring that newly appointed Minister of Finance and the Public Service Fayval Williams will have “big shoes to fill”, president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, Metry Seaga, said that he is nonetheless optimistic that she will be effective in her new role.
Williams has replaced Dr Nigel Clarke, who demitted office yesterday to take up a deputy managing director post at the International Monetary Fund.
Seaga told The Gleaner that “time will tell” if Prime Minister Andrew Holness made the right decision in selecting Williams for the post.
“The new finance minister has some big shoes to fill, and I am hopeful that she will do so,” he said.
“I know that she is qualified for the job, and I know that she has been there before in her junior minister capacity, so I am hopeful that the systems that are in place will be maintained and she has a good set of staff, so I am hopeful,” he added.
In making the announcement during yesterday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House in St Andrew, Holness said his senior adviser, Alok Jain, who is highly regarded for his financial expertise, will be assigned to work closely with Williams.
Although emphasising that Williams possesses the experience and expertise to execute the duties of her new role, the prime minister said this was nonetheless not a priority in the discussions leading up to her selection.
“But the truth is, the stakeholder community that she will serve specifically would want to know that someone who would be in that area has some technical competence. I don’t think there could be any question about Minister Williams’ technical competence in that field,” he said.
Williams, who is the member of parliament for St Andrew Eastern, is the first woman to serve as Jamaica’s finance minister.
She previously served as a minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service.
She is a chartered financial analyst and has held numerous leadership positions in key local and international financial institutions.
‘Great responsibility’
In the meantime, acknowledging that her role is “one of great responsibility”, Williams said she is ready to continue building on the economic gains achieved by the Holness administration.
“We are in a time that demands, and continues to demand, vision, resilience, and a steadfast commitment to building a future that offers both stability and opportunity for all citizens,” said the now former minister of education and youth.
She noted that the country has achieved growth over some quarters but that there is need now for an acceleration of that growth.
“In this role, I pledge to prioritise accountability and innovation and to listen closely to the needs and aspirations of those we serve. Our economy, like those we serve, continues to face challenges, but I see in these challenges incredible opportunities to continue to build on the foundation that has been created to create an even more resilient country,” she said.
After yesterday’s announcement, Opposition Spokesman on Finance Julian Robinson told The Gleaner that Holness’ selection of Williams for the portfolio is the “only logical choice” given her prior experience.
He stressed, however, that there is a range of issues that will demand her immediate attention, foremost being addressing the groups of public-sector workers who are restive and dissatisfied with how the public sector compensation review has been handled.
“The new minister needs to ensure that the wage agreement signed between the Government and the Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA) is implemented. The JCSA is restive that notwithstanding the signing of the agreement, nothing official has been put in place to facilitate the payments of outstanding sums,” he said.
Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon takes over as minister of education and youth, in addition to her current role as minister of information, and Matthew Samuda returns to his post as minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. Samuda was recently elected the MP for St Ann North East.
“These appointments are designed to maintain stability and minimise disruption in the functions of the Government, but at the same time, pivot towards a growth-oriented economic policy as well as to make a priority [of] and focus [on] human-capital development,” Holness said.