PM fines ‘starstruck’ ministers in album launch saga

Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday announced that five Cabinet ministers who appeared to flout the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA) while attending an entertainment event Tuesday night have been ordered to donate $100,000 each to a charity or assist Jamaicans currently before the courts for breaching the Disaster Risk Management Act.

The Government has been facing backlash after the ministers were seen at the Alpha album launch of Jamaican sensation Shenseea on Campbell Boulevard in Kingston.

The five Cabinet ministers at the album launch – Dr Nigel Clarke, Olivia Grange, Dr Christopher Tufton, Floyd Green, and Deputy Prime Minister Dr Horace Chang – were seen huddled together and guffawing in a party-like environment. State Minister Alando Terrelonge and Opposition Spokesperson Lisa Hanna also attended the event and had photo ops.

Only Terrelonge and Grange wore masks in widely published photos and videos.

“Some people were starstruck and forgot their senses; I believe they should be fined. And so Minister Grange, who is used to being among stars and kept her mask on, I am appointing you, Minister, to collect $100,000 from every minister who was there and make a donation to a worthy charity,” Holness said as he made his contribution to the Budget Debate in Gordon House yesterday.

Yesterday, Holness announced an end to the orders under the DRMA.