Agriculture Minister facing contempt of court proceedings following controversial JAS AGM

By Clinton McGregor   

 

As the government grapples with the devastation to the agriculture sector following the passage of Hurricane Beryl, Agriculture Minister Floyd Green is facing contempt proceedings before the Supreme Court.

 

Lawyers representing members of the Jamaica Agriculture Society, including Lenworth Fulton, filed a motion before the Supreme Court on Wednesday against Minister Green, accusing him of breaching a court injunction after he reportedly sanctioned the recently held annual General Meeting of the JAS.

 

Lead attorney Hugh Wildman accused the Minister of breaching a court injunction handed down July last year, blocking the holding of the AGM.

 

He told Radio Jamaica News that his clients are hoping to get an early date, so the matter can be heard as quickly as possible. 

 

"We think that it's an important matter. It goes to the question as to whether a Supreme Court judge's order can be disregarded by a member of the executive with impunity. This is what is the issue here. Mr. Fulton is still the president because the Supreme Court preserves him as the president by virtue of the fact that there was no meeting scheduled to be held to replace him," Mr Wildman contended. 

 

Owen Dobson was elected president at the Annual General Meeting of the Society last week despite questions about the legitimacy of his position.

 

Meanwhile, Mr. Fulton has insisted that he remains the JAS President until his term ends in September.

 

He said he awaits the conclusion of the initial case brought against the JAS, which saw the court imposing an injunction.

 

"I can't speak about it because, as I said, I did not bring the case against the JAS. All I can do is to put a lawyer on the case, and we have put John Jacobs on the case, to defend the board members and our 250,000 farmers," he declared.