KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Leader Andrew Holness says Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller’s reassignment of Cabinet Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson is tantamount to “shifting accountability and responsibility away from him”.

“The prime minister’s actions show a very high tolerance and patience with failure and underperformance which places the health and security of the people of Jamaica at risk,” said Holness.

“The minister should have been removed a long time ago. The fact is that Minister Ferguson’s performance and execution of his duties as the Minister of Health does not recommend him to continue to hold any ministerial office in any cabinet,” he added.

Holness said following the release of the health audit report, the prime minister should have held to account other “chief personnel and political appointees responsible for the shortcomings in policy and administration”.

This, he said, will set an example of accountability not just in the Ministry of Health but throughout the entire Government.