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Thwaites weighs in on appointment of Ruel Reid to the Senate
6:54 am, Mon November 18, 2013
Ruel Reid
Ronald Thwaites, Minister of Education, has reacted cautiously to news that Ruel Reid, principal of Jamaica College, has been appointed a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Senator. He has described the situation as unusual.
Mr. Reid, whose appointment was announced last Friday, will take his seat at the next meeting of the Senate.
When contacted by RJR News, the Minister was guarded in his response.
Mr. Thwaites also pointed to limitations concerning Mr. Reid assuming the role of Senator and remaining in the education sector.
“It is an unusual incident for a principal of a school to accept such an appointment. I don’t know if there is a precedent which could guide us coming to a view on this. I applaud people who take up public service, but one would have to be clear that the duties can’t interfere in anyway with the post of principal or any other directorate which Mr. Reid holds,” said Mr. Thwaites.
Mr. Reid was an advisor to the Minister of Education in the previous administration. He also served as president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA).
And Mr. Reid's inclusion on the boards of public bodies is to come under scrutiny in the wake of his appointment as an Opposition Senator.
“Mr. Ruel Reid is a member of the board of the HEART Trust/TA and also a member of the National Council on Education. Both bodies will have to consider, along with him, how his appointment will affect his functioning and his position on those boards", Mr. Thwaites said.
6:54 am, Mon November 18, 2013
Ruel Reid
Ronald Thwaites, Minister of Education, has reacted cautiously to news that Ruel Reid, principal of Jamaica College, has been appointed a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Senator. He has described the situation as unusual.
Mr. Reid, whose appointment was announced last Friday, will take his seat at the next meeting of the Senate.
When contacted by RJR News, the Minister was guarded in his response.
Mr. Thwaites also pointed to limitations concerning Mr. Reid assuming the role of Senator and remaining in the education sector.
“It is an unusual incident for a principal of a school to accept such an appointment. I don’t know if there is a precedent which could guide us coming to a view on this. I applaud people who take up public service, but one would have to be clear that the duties can’t interfere in anyway with the post of principal or any other directorate which Mr. Reid holds,” said Mr. Thwaites.
Mr. Reid was an advisor to the Minister of Education in the previous administration. He also served as president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA).
And Mr. Reid's inclusion on the boards of public bodies is to come under scrutiny in the wake of his appointment as an Opposition Senator.
“Mr. Ruel Reid is a member of the board of the HEART Trust/TA and also a member of the National Council on Education. Both bodies will have to consider, along with him, how his appointment will affect his functioning and his position on those boards", Mr. Thwaites said.
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