Reid settlement ‘probably close’ to $16 million, says Education Minister
/ Our Today
administrator
Education Minister Fayval Williams has declared that the settlement that facilitated Ruel Reid’s resignation as principal of Jamaica College (JC), was “nowhere near” the JM$100 million.
Williams’ comments come two days after a Sunday Gleaner report cited unnamed sources as putting the settlement total close to that sum.
Williams, speaking with Nationwide Radio this morning (November 23), acknowledged the negative public perception of what would be a massive contract buyout. She added that while not “party” to the agreement arrived at, the Ministry of Education was aware of the settlement.
“No, it isn’t true. I know that there have been a lot of questions asked by Jamaicans about the situation. But let me just say that [according to] the Ministry of Education Act of 1965 and the regulations of 1980: a teacher, in the broadest sense of the word, when they are hired in the public education system, they’re essentially hired for life. It is very difficult to get rid of them; very difficult to fire them,” she began.
Continuing, Minister Williams explained that having inherited the Reid debacle in 2019, she used every opportunity to review the legal parameters under which the disgraced former politician could be removed—none of which applied under the provisions of the education ministry.
She explained further that in all her readings and consultations with lawyers, there were four situations where a teacher’s position could be made vacant: death before retirement; reaching retirement age; if the educator is convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to imprisonment; or, as in Reid’s case, settling on a contract buyout from the school board.
“Having said that, let me say [school] boards can decide to initiate disciplinary proceedings if they’ve gotten a written complaint about the teacher, and I know boards across Jamaica go through the process. They go through fiduciary matters, lateness to classes, misconduct and so on,” Williams argued.
“But this particular situation is beyond those issues,” she added.
The minister, reviewing the entire timeline of events—from Reid’s secondment as JC principal to Cabinet minister under Prime Minister Andrew Holness—disclosed that the Old Hope Road-based institution is a bursar-paid school.
“Meaning, the Government gives bursar-paid schools a sum of money and the school uses that to pay the teachers. Technically, you could say JC pays the principal, but in effect, monies come from the Government to pay teachers,” Williams said.
When asked, she refused to directly answer, however, whether Reid was paid from the Government purse, adding the onus is on Jamaica College to clarify.
“What I know is that the Government gives a sum of money to schools such as JC primarily for [the] salaries of teachers, but there are other grants as well,” the minister explained.
Williams also declined to definitively comment on the sum of money the Government of Jamaica contributed to Reid’s settlement, announced jointly by the embattled ex-principal and the JC Board on Saturday.
“I wouldn’t be able to give you that number only because we await documentation from the board of JC. What I can say is it’s nowhere near the $100 million that I’ve seen quoted in the newspaper,” she said.
Questioned whether the payout was in the ballpark of $16 million, Minister Williams commented, “probably close to that, considering this is a settlement where someone has a claim on the position”.
Comments