Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke bid goodbye to his constituents in North West St Andrew on Monday, October 28, as he prepared to start his new chapter in Washington, DC, where he will assume the role of deputy managing director at the International Monetary Fund on Thursday, October 31.

Clarke’s resignation as a Member of Parliament of St Andrew North Western takes effect on Tuesday.

Speaking at the Jamaica Labour Party’s Area Council One meeting at the Pembroke Hall Community Centre, he expressed his deepest gratitude to his constituents for their steadfast support throughout his six-and-a-half-year tenure.

“As I leave the playfield, effective midnight, tomorrow night, I want you to know that it has been the privilege of my life to serve you as a Member of Parliament. It has been the privilege of my life to respond to your fears, to respond to your needs and to incorporate your ideas,” he said.

Using a cricket analogy, Clarke likened his achievements at the constituency level to the precision and teamwork required in the sport.

“It has been a privilege of my life to serve you,” he said, reflecting on his time in office.

He also thanked Prime Minister Andrew Holness and the Jamaica Labour Party for the opportunity to contribute to the nation’s governance. As Clarke readies to take on new responsibilities at the IMF, he leaves behind a record of service to the constituency of St Andrew North Western and as minister of finance and the public service.