Clearing foggy memory

THE EDITOR, Madam:

In his letter published in The Gleaner of December 29, Mr Derrick Smith has doubled down on his misrepresentation of the facts concerning his reassignment from the ministry of national security to the ministry of mining and telecommunications in May 2008.

He denies the discussions he and I had on Saturday, May 10, 2008, and states that on Monday, May 12, 2008, I demanded his resignation, which he submitted “within an hour”. I did no such thing. He further states: “weeks after, I was called and appointed to a hurriedly constructed ministry of mining and telecommunications”. Weeks after?

Derrick’s reassignment to the ministry of mining and telecommunications was announced in an official statement from the Office of the Prime Minister on May 12, 2008. I know of instances where cabinet ministers have refused to accept reassignment and have chosen to withdraw from the cabinet. That statement could not have been issued unless Derrick had accepted the reassignment.

The Gleaner Archives news report dated May 13, 2008, includes the following: “The colonel will be taking over the national security portfolio from Derrick Smith, who has been reassigned the mining and telecommunications portfolio”.

Posted on the King’s House website dated May 14, 2008, is a report of the swearing-in ceremony for Colonel Trevor MacMillan as minister of national security. It says: “Colonel MacMillan takes over from an ailing Derrick Smith, who now assumes responsibility for the telecommunications and mining portfolios of the ministry previously held by Clive Mullings.”

The RJR website news report of May 14, 2008, includes the following: “Colonel MacMillan takes over from an ailing Derrick Smith, who now assumes responsibility for the telecommunications and mining portfolios of the ministry previously held by Clive Mullings.”

I should point out, as well, that because of his health issues, Derrick was unable to take up his new assignment for several months. I quote again from a news report of September 16, 2008, on the RJR website: “Derrick Smith, minister of mining and telecommunications, is back on the job. The Cabinet minister has now taken up his duties for the first time since he was assigned the portfolio several months ago. Mr Smith has been unable to assume duties at the newly created mining and telecommunications ministry because of ill health for the past five months.”

I, too, at my age, have difficulty remembering details of events that occurred a long time ago, which is why I rely on, where possible, on documented records. All of the above references can easily be accessed on the Internet.

BRUCE GOLDING

Former Prime Minister of Jamaica