After having a meaningful discussion with Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Minister JC Hutchinson has apologized to the Government of Jamaica, his Party, Cabinet Colleagues, and the Jamaican people.
In a previous statement, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said after consulting with the Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, and Fisheries the Hon. Audley Shaw, MP and Permanent Secretary Dermon Spence, then having a ‘meaningful discussion’ with Minister Hutchinson, the results were with immediate effect, relieving Hutchinson of responsibilities he held in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, and Fisheries and transferred to the Office of the Prime Minister.
This closely followed an apology from JC Hutchinson, that we have shared below:
Minister Hutchinson Apologizes
I wish to apologise to the Prime Minister, my Party, my Cabinet Colleagues, and most importantly the Jamaican people for my errors of judgment in relation to land transactions involving the Holland Estate.
My actions were never designed for personal benefit but arose out of a conviction that strong and decisive action was necessary to preserve the Holland Estate lands (the “Lands”) for small farmers.
There was a real risk that without strong and decisive action the Lands would have been overtaken by squatters and stray animals as has happened in the past.
I, therefore, acted out of my perception that the proper course, of having the Agro Investment Corporation handle the transition to small farmers, would have been ineffective.
I was wrong. The course of action I chose cannot be defended. Though my goals were noble, the procedure I used was flawed and the ends do not justify the means.
Throughout my long career in public life, I have acted with probity and adhered to high standards of conduct. I trust that my contrition and the sincerity of my apology for this error is self-evident and that, in the end, I will be judged by the totality of my contribution to public life.
