JAS AGM hits new hurdle

The long-awaited annual general meeting (AGM) of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) slated for Wednesday has been postponed indefinitely.

This follows a Supreme Court decision on Monday setting a new hearing date for the case brought by Ian Hill, an affiliate of the Westmoreland Association of Branch Societies of the JAS against its board of directors, contending that the nomination for the election of officers was legally flawed.

He is pressing for the reopening of nominations to allow for a wider slate of candidates to vie for the presidency and two vice-presidential positions. Hill has also accused the current administration of a wanton abuse of power for its failure to call elections as its three-year term should have ended in 2021

However, JAS President Lenworth Fulton has rejected that assertion, contending that the nominations were constitutional and there is no need to revisit the process. He also told The Gleaner the restrictions on public gatherings dictated by COVID-19 made it impractical for the elections to have been held.

Both parties will return to court on October 5 to have their submissions heard.

This development means that a new date for the AGM cannot be set until the court action ends.

The current executive took office in July 2018.