IAN Hayles was yesterday informed that he was being transferred to the water, environment and climate change ministry in an obvious move by the prime minister to avoid a protracted bitter feud between the junior minister and his boss, Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke, from mushrooming further.

But Hayles made it clear yesterday that the decision has not dampened his resolve to serve Jamaica, even though his tone suggested that he was disappointed about the transfer.

“The fire that burns within me for the people of Jamaica, no one man can stop that fire, because it is a fire that burns for my country in terms of seeing a better Jamaica, a better agricultural sector and a better way forward for the people of Jamaica,” Hayles told the Jamaica Observer.

“If I can contribute in any way, shape or form to the development of my country, I will do so going forward. So the work continues, the fire keeps burning, the mission continues, it is about Jamaica and wanting to see a better Jamaica for the people of Jamaica,” he added.

Hayles and Clarke have been at loggerheads for some time now apparently over policy and operational decisions in the agriculture ministry.

A Government official confirmed to the Observer last week that both men were not seeing eye to eye.

“They have not spoken to each other in three months,” the Government official said, adding that the relationship had so soured that the only option was for one of them to be moved to another ministry.

Hayles has declined to comment on the dispute, while the Observer has been unable to speak to Clarke.

Yesterday, Hayles seemed resigned to his fate, saying that he served at the prime minister’s pleasure.

“As everyone would know, a year ago the prime minister sent me to the Ministry of Agriculture to do a job, and the prime minister is the boss and I work with a boss. So if at this time the prime minister sees it fit to move me somewhere else I am here to serve the people of Jamaica,” Hayles said.

When questioned why he was absent from yesterday’s Pan-Caribbean Sugar Company launch of the 2012/2013 sugar cane crop at the Frome Estate in Westmoreland, where he was down to bring greetings, Hayles explained that he had to attend to a meeting.

“I was supposed to be at Frome this (yesterday) morning but I had a meeting that I had to attend. But sugar is important to the people of Jamaica and that is within me in coming from a sugar community myself. I know the importance of sugar to the people of Jamaica. I am glad I had the opportunity to work with the Chinese and other people within the agricultural sector. It is something I feel good about,” he said.