KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) has commended Prime Minister Andrew Holness on his decision to request the resignation of Ruel Reid, but expressed concern that this is the second Cabinet minister to resign in a matter of months.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness made the announcement this morning after having met with Reid regarding what he described as “certain allegations in the public domain”.

Reid subsequently resigned as education minister and from the senate.

JCC, in a statement this afternoon, it was appropriate for the Reid to be permanently detached from his responsibilities during investigations into the allegations of impropriety in the ministry.

“While we are not aware of the details of the allegations, one benchmark of good governance is that if there are substantive imputations of impropriety, the persons at the centre of those allegations should step aside – even temporarily – without the shadow of their presence casting doubt on the investigative process,” the statement continued.

JCC said it looks forward to quick and transparent updates on the process and the results of the pending investigation.

Reid’s resignation follows the resignation last year of another Cabinet minister, Dr Andrew Wheatley, who was responsible for the science, energy and technology ministry.

Wheatley stepped down amid revelations of misuse of public funds, nepotism and other improprieties at agencies under the energy portfolio.