JAMAICA-PM Holness says he still has confidence in embattled minister.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Prime Minister Andrew Holness Monday said he expects his embattled Minister of Science, Technology and Special Projects, Dr Andrew Wheatley, to be present at the Cabinet meeting, acknowledging also that the charges contained in a report from the Integrity Commission (IC) are serious.

“Dr Weather retains my confidence in the work that he has been doing in the Office of the Prime Minister, particularly in AI and cyber and these other areas. As it relates to the report that was tabled on him, I have read the report briefly,” Prime Minister Holness said during an interview with NATIONWIDE TV on Monday.

He told viewers that he has not had a chance to go through it, but “I do intend to be briefed by the attorneys as to exactly what is stated in the report.

“ So, I, you know, the charges that are suggested or recommended are serious. Now, the challenge, of course, is that no charge has yet been preferred against him. So, until that point, we will observe the situation.”

Holness said that he will attend Monday’s Cabinet meeting and he expects “to see Minister Wheatley there and we will have a fulsome discussion with him directly on the report and what to expect in the future.

Last week, Wheatley vowed to clear his name as he faces charges stemming from the IC report into his financial affairs. The anti-corruption body recommended that Wheatley face four charges, including illicit enrichment.

The recommendation was revealed last Wednesday after the Integrity Commission’s report was tabled in the House of Representatives. Wheatley is the first of eight parliamentarians being investigated by the Commission for possible illicit enrichment to have a report tabled.

During the interview on Monday, Prime Minister Holness was asked whether he was looking at making changes, telling the host “it is always, always something that I must do, yes, always, not just now, but always.

Asked if it was triggered partly by those problems you’re having,” Holness replied, “so even things that haven’t come to the public before would also make me look to see where would be the best place for someone to serve or not to serve.

“So this is always under review, always,” he said, acknowledging that he now has some senior veterans in the government.

“So as Prime Minister, I have to look at succession planning. I have to look at training. I plan to give people exposure. I have to create a leadership nursery. I assign people to work together in teams who are the best fit.

“But at the same time, you’re not a minister with any special assignment. A minister must have certain general capabilities that you can work wherever you are assigned. There is no specialist minister, and I think that needs to be clearly understood.

“So you can’t say, you know, I didn’t like this portfolio. I don’t like, You’re a minister, meaning you’re a servant of the people. You administer the affairs of the people. So wherever you’re put, you should have the capabilities to do it. You’re not there because you’re a subject specialist,” Holness added.