JAMAICA-Labour and Social Security Minister to step down.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Labour and Social Security Minister, Karl Samuda, says he expects Prime Minister Andrew Holness to announce his departure from the Cabinet.

Samuda, 81, told Radio Jamaica that his departure would be soon and that it should not come as a surprise as he had already indicated that he would step down from his ministerial role at the midterm.

“I have to await certain particulars and instructions I expect to receive in the coming weeks. It depends on when the Prime Minister has completed the process…so as soon as that is received, I will demit office fully,” Samuda told radio listeners.

“I said to the Prime Minister when he appoi8nted me that I would not be in this thing for more than three years because I was very aware of the fact that at the time I was 78 years old and I set myself a target and that target determined at that time I would wish to retire ministerial duties, give or take two months here or there which does not matter in the scheme of things.

“But at an appropriate time suitable to the Prime Minister and the team that IO is a part of, this is an appropriate thing to do, and I don’t think it is a surprise to anyone,” Samuda said, recalling that when he went to the voters seeking their support, he did not do so on “ a conditional way.

“If things run well, I will be with you, but if things don’t go according to how (well), I will leave. The people elected me to serve a term, and in fairness to them and my place..in history, I don’t wish to be considered someone who leaves representational politics prematurely,” he added.

Samuda is a businessman, farmer, and technocrat educated in Canada.

He was employed at Alcan Jamaica Limited and Industrial Gases Limited before venturing into furniture manufacturing and later farming.

Samuda also served on the Electoral Commission of Jamaica, having previously served an eight-year stint as a member of the Electoral Advisory Committee. The former general secretary of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Samuda has been the Member of Parliament for St. Andrew, North Central, since 1980. It has the distinction of representing both major political parties in that constituency. He is married with three sons.