Holness thanks Clarke for service to public sector

Prime Minister Andrew Holness earlier this week thanked Ambassador Dr Nigel Clarke for his service to Jamaica as chairman of the National Housing Trust, chairman of the board of the Port Authority of Jamaica, and deputy chairman of the Economic Growth Council.

Having been elected as member of parliament for North West St Andrew last week, Clarke has given up all positions he held on government boards.

"In accordance with the policy of my Government, Ambassador Clarke's stewardship of the National Housing Trust (NHT) has been characterised by a refocusing of the Trust on its central task of providing housing solutions, and, in particular, affordable housing solutions," Holness said.

According to the prime minister, under Clarke's chairmanship, NHT housing starts have increased dramatically, and, in the 2017-18 financial year, "The NHT is set to achieve approximately 5,200 housing starts, which will be, by far, the highest number of NHT housing starts in approximately 20 years."

In addition, he said, under Clarke's chairmanship, the NHT has completed planning for more than 20,000 NHT housing starts by 2020 and has spearheaded innovative programmes to drive even more growth in affordable housing solutions through partnership with the private sector.

PORT AUTHORITY

With respect to the Port Authority, the prime minister stated, "Dr Clarke assumed the chairmanship of the Port Authority at a delicate time during the final stages of the divestment process of the Kingston Container Terminal and successfully oversaw the divestment and over US$400 million of investment for Jamaica."

With regard to the Economic Growth Council (EGC), Holness said, "Ambassador Clarke was a guiding force behind the work of the EGC, including wide-ranging policy reform recom-mendations, many of which have since been adopted by the Government."

Clarke continues to serve as an adviser to the prime minister and ambassador of economic affairs, working out of the Office of the Prime Minister, interfacing with multilateral agencies, and working closely in the monitoring of the precautionary stand-by agree-ment with the International Monetary Fund.