Letter of the Day | Derrick Smith was reassigned, not dismissed – Jamaica Gleaner

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I am hesitant to enter into an argument with Derrick Smith, someone whom I hold in high regard for his many years of sterling service to our country. However, it is incumbent on me to set the record straight.

Contrary to his assertion, I had no second thoughts about appointing him as minister of national security in September 2008. Our parliamentary margin did not factor in that consideration. Derrick had shadowed that portfolio for many years, developed a keen understanding of the issues and, importantly, built a strong relationship with the rank and file of the police through the Police Federation. He was a valued member of the Cabinet. Indeed, I also assigned him responsibility as leader of the House.

The security portfolio is undoubtedly the most challenging of Cabinet assignments. It is the one that has to respond to our failures as a society that are outside of its remit. We have had seven ministers of national security in the last 20 years a measure far less of the competence of the appointees, but more of the fierceness of those challenges that has resulted in a high turnover rate. In addition, Derrick, unfortunately, was experiencing formidable health challenges that had kept him out of office for an extended period.

As confirmed by my official diary at the Office of the Prime Minister, I met with Derrick at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2008, and advised him that he would be reassigned to the Ministry of Mining and Telecommunications. An official announcement of this change and the appointment of the late Col Trevor MacMillan as the new minister of national security was made on Monday, May 12, 2008. While his disappointment was clearly obvious, he agreed to accept the new portfolio assignment. For Derrick to claim that I did not have the decency to discuss the matter with him is egregiously untrue.

I do not recall, but it is possible that, given the agility of local journalists and the fact that I would have held prior consultations to ascertain Colonel MacMillans availability and willingness, and to negotiate a vacancy in the Senate to facilitate his appointment, there may have been speculation in the media regarding the impending change. This may be what has led to the blurring of Derricks memory and his failure to recall that we met on Saturday, May 10, 2008.

Derrick draws a contrast between that experience and the JLPs decision to name Nigel Clarke as its candidate to replace him in North West St Andrew. In the latter case, he is reported as saying, the party leader, Andrew Holness, had the decency to discuss the matter and while it didnt end the way he had hoped, face-to-face, man-to-man discussions were held.

If, indeed, there had been speculation in the media in 2008 prior to my meeting with Derrick, the contrast escapes me because Derrick is quoted in The Gleaner of January 22, 2018, as saying, As we speak, nobody in the leadership of the party has mentioned anything to me about a likely replacement. I saw Clarkes name in The Gleaner this morning and I would believe a decent way to approach my replacement would be to have a discussion with me as to who I think fits the constituency.

Various references in the media, including The Sunday Gleaner story published on December 26, speak of Derricks dismissal in 2008. Derrick was not dismissed; he was reassigned to the Ministry of Mining and Telecommunications. Change in portfolio assignments is a prerogative that every prime minister has exercised in seeking to improve the effectiveness of the government.

BRUCE GOLDING

Former Prime Minister of

Jamaica

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Letter of the Day | Derrick Smith was reassigned, not dismissed - Jamaica Gleaner