It's a tribal interpretation ... I will not resign, says Ruddy Spencer after controversial RADA comment

State Minister of Finance Ruddy Spencer has rejected calls for him to resign over his controversial comment at a Jamaica Labour Party meeting in Bellefield, Manchester on Sunday that supporters would get increased assistance through the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) now that a Labourite is the board chairman.

Former Clarendon North Western MP Michael Stern was appointed RADA chairman in August last year.

 
IN PHOTO: Michael Stern

Speaking this morning on Cliff Hughes Online on Nationwide Radio, Spencer said he is sorry he could have been interpreted as being tribal.

However, he said there is no reason for him to resign.

"I am very sorry that it was taken out of context," Spencer said of his comments.

He maintained that there have been frequent complaints of political bias in acquiring RADA services and so he was only trying to assure people that there would now be a change.

His comments made on Sunday have ignited a firestorm on social media.

READ SPENCER'S COMMENTS BELOW:

SPENCER: Labourites, we have a system where we will now have our own chairman of RADA and things have been happening and things can happen at RADA. But naturally, you will meet some bottlenecks because we have just taken over the system and we are trying to find our way around the system. Where you never have a parish manager for RADA, you now have a Labourite being the chairman of RADA, so whatever problems you use to have …

(Spencer pauses to hear advice of someone reminding him that the media were present.) 

SPENCER: No, no I want them hear. 

MAN IN AUDIENCE: Mine weh you a talk seh

SPENCER: Whatever problems you use to have, I believe now most of those problems would have gone away because you have your own manager to assist in the management of RADA … So therefore, you can’t say that you are getting no attention, you can’t say nothing is happening, because in fairness, you have your own manager, to report whatever problems you have and expect him to solve those problem.

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