PM hails Clarke's imminent appointment to senior IMF post

By Racquel Porter and Nakinskie Robinson

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has described Dr Nigel Clarke's pending appointment as Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund as an historic and important development, noting that the post is "global in scope."

Mr Clarke has been Jamaica's Minister of Finance and the Public Service, and a Member of Parliament, since March 2018.

"No citizen of Jamaica, or the Caribbean, for that matter, has ever before served at this level in the IMF," Mr Holness noted, adding that "it is to the benefit of Jamaica and the Caribbean for one of our nationals to serve in such a consequential global position."

It was therefore "a tremendous gain for Jamaica and the Caribbean," he asserted. 

Mr Holness said on Monday that the Government has identified successors to Dr Clarke in both his ministerial and parliamentary responsibilities and there will be a smooth transition in both capacities.

The governing Jamaica Labour Party has already announced that Duane Smith, councillor for the Chancery Hall division in the Kingston & St. Andrew Municipal Corporation, will be its candidate in the election to succeed Dr Clarke as MP in his parliamentary seat, representing the constituency of St Andrew North Western constituency.