West welcomes Homer Davis’ reassignment
Published:Tuesday | January 11, 2022 | 12:09 AMMark Titus/Gleaner Writer
Prominent figures in western Jamaica last night welcomed news of Homer Davis’ appointment to coordinate special projects and major developments in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) amid a shuffle in the Executive.
Davis, a former mayor of Montego Bay who had previously been serving as minister of state in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, will now be based at OPM West in the Second City.
It was a ringing endorsement all around for key stakeholders among the four western parishes.
Businessman Davon Crump is among those welcoming the focus on the development projects in the western region.
“Homer Davis’ record speaks for itself and I expect nothing less in this new role,” said Crump, a former president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “He was never afraid to make the hard decisions and his elevation to central government left a void. He is an excellent choice and I can only wish him the best.”
Bishop O’Neil Russell, a community leader in Westmoreland, echoed those sentiments.
“I am happy for Homer because he did well as mayor of Montego Bay. He is a high performer and I am confident that he will do well in his new portfolio,” Russell said of Davis, who is also member of parliament for St James Southern.
With 37 murders committed in Jamaica in the first week of 2022, there was some disappointment that Dr Horace Chang, the MP for St James North Western, has retained the national security portfolio.
Russell believes the prime minister erred in not shifting or retiring his deputy.
“This is not a game thing. Yes, I understand that it would be embarrassing to move the senior member, but sometimes we have to take drastic action in order to get things done and putting [Matthew] Samuda into the Office of the PM is a bad move … . He should have replaced Chang,” he told The Gleaner.
Samuda was previously serving as minister without portfolio in the national security ministry.
“I am disappointed because we need a change,” Russell contended.
“Having Fayval [Williams] at education is equally disappointing; she should have gone to the energy ministry. She did well when she was there,” he added.