Ruel Reid - file photo
.png)
00:00
00:00
00:00
Michael Bernard, chairman of the board of Jamaica College
The board of Jamaica College has referred the controversial matter involving Ruel Reid's special leave to Minister of Education Fayval Williams.
During a board meeting on Thursday night, the members deliberated on recommendations submitted by the Ministry of Education on how to deal with the issue of extending special leave with full salary and benefits to Mr. Reid, who still holds the post of principal at Jamaica College.
Board members voted unanimously to send a list of recommendations back to Mrs Williams for action in the matter.
The school's chairman, Michael Bernard, on Friday morning told Radio Jamaica News that the purpose of the recommendations is to determine how to deal with matters relating to Mr. Reid going forward.
He did not share specific details, noting that "the minister should be allowed the opportunity to deliberate and share that with the Prime Minister or the Cabinet".
Mr. Bernard said the Jamaica College board is expecting a response from the minister by November 10.
Mr. Reid's special leave ends on November 20, however, he had requested on August 2 to have his leave extended.
But according to Mr. Bernard, "the board does not wish to be forced into approving any special leave".
Education Minister Fayval Williams had indicated in the House of Representatives on Wednesday that it was the Jamaica College board that had the authority to determine the fate of Mr. Reid as principal, based on the Education Regulations.
She told the House that the board had failed to submit recommendations in relation to the matter.
However, Mr. Bernard refuted those comments on Friday, saying it was board that was awaiting a response from the minister after receiving the request from Mr. Reid on August 2 to extend his leave.
He said the board had sent to request to the Ministry of Education for guidance and continued to hold discussions with the ministry from August 5 to October 25 regarding the matter.
Mr. Bernard insisted that the board agreed to "put together a team that would put proposals to [the minister]" for her to seek Cabinet approval and then communicate a directive that the board could execute.
All feeds
