KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC—The Jamaica College (JC) has paid former education minister Ruel Reid J$3.3million (One Jamaica dollar = 0.008 cents) in an out-of-court settlement over allegations of incentive payments owed to him from his time as principal of the institution.
In July 2023, Reid filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court against the Jamaica College Trust and the Jamaica College Foundation, claiming that certain incentives that had been agreed upon when he was the principal of JC should be paid to him even during the period he was absent from the school on secondment and then on special leave to assume the role of minister of education.
Reid claimed an estimated J$28 million, with interest.
In a statement, the Jamaica College Trust said the decision to pay Reid was commercially difficult but was taken after receiving legal advice and weighing the risk of proceeding with what it said would have been a costly litigation process.
Derek Jones, chairman of the Jamaica College Trust, said the settlement will cost 10 percent of the amount at risk.
“This puts the saga behind us and allows us to consider how best the money which was at risk in the lawsuit can be best used to further the interests of the 1,650 boys who attend Jamaica College,” Jones said.
“The Trust was advised that a trial of the matter would likely take place after several years and at a probable cost of approximately five million dollars in legal fees. The total amount at risk was, therefore, of the order of $33 million,” the statement from the JC Trust said.
Jones expressed his relief with the development and said he is now directing his complete focus and efforts toward the further advancement of the school, the staff, and the students.
Reid, a career educator, handed Holness his resignation in March 209 amid swirling allegations of corruption, cronyism, and mismanagement at Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), which falls under the Ministry of Education.
Several months later, Reid; his wife, Sharen; daughter, Sharelle; CMU President Fritz Pinnock; and councilor for the Brown’s Town division of the St Ann Municipal Corporation, Kim Brown Lawrence, were arrested on fraud-related charges for allegedly diverting approximately $50 million from the CMU.
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