JLP St Ann North East MP Marsha Smith has resigned

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Member of Parliament for St Ann North East Marsha Smith has resigned with immediate effect.

The announcement was made today in a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness thanked Marsha Smith, who is the Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Youth, for her service in representational politics.

Smith was elected to represent the constituency in September 2020.

The seat is expected to be represented in the next general election by Matthew Samuda, who currently serves as Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth & Job Creation, who was presented by Holness as the JLP's standard-bearer at an event in the constituency last year November.

“I have known Matthew for many years. I consider him my younger brother. Matthew is a natural politician,” said Holness at the time.

READ: JLP leader touts Samuda as 'natural politician'

“I am confident that Matthew Samuda will be a very good representative for all the people of North East St Ann,” he said to thunderous applause.

The announcement of Samuda's candidacy followed at least two staged protests by constituents against any continuation of Smith as the party's standard-bearer.

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