Government Is Pulling out of JAS VOL. 28 NO. 1 •
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FEBRUARY- MARCH 2018
By Patrick Maitland Editor-The Agriculturalist
embers of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) say they are shocked and “surprised” by the government’s decision to pull out of the governance structure of the 123-year-old society and will cut off its annual subvention of up to $88 million. Donovan Stanberry, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, told the JAS board of management meeting on Jan. 17 that plans are in place to revoke the Jamaica Agricultural Society Incorporation Act of June 19, 1941, which established the society as an agent of the government. The Board was asked to propose a new operational structure, which would exclude the government or its agencies. Stanberry, however, noted that the ministry would settle redundancy and other termination expenses of the JAS’s 64 staff members. Norman Grant, president of the JAS, told The Agriculturalist that it came as a surprise to the board of management of the society that the Cabinet decided to repeal the 1941 Act. “We have since replied to the Ministry asking for further discussions to better understand the consequences of such a decision as well as how those will be addressed and what is the desired timetable,” Grant explained. “The Board is studying the Cabinet’s position which came to us as a surprise.” He added that they would “do what is in the best interest of our farmers, members and other
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NORMAN GRANT President, JAS ‘It came as a surprise’
stakeholders including our staff. The JAS don’t want to pre-empt the outcome of the process at this time.” The new JAS without government support will top the agenda at the Feb. 21 monthly board meeting of the Society. Continued on page 7