Minister of Finance and Public Service Dr Nigel Clarke on Tuesday dodged questions from the media regarding his appointment as deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) but Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport Daryl Vaz applauded him for his decision to accept the prestigious role.

Clarke’s appointment as IMF deputy managing director takes effect on October 31, 2024, which leaves Holness days to figure out his replacement.

At Tuesday’s handing-over ceremony of 100 compressed natural gas buses to the Jamaica Urban Transit Company ( JUTC) in Portmore, St Catherine, Dr Clarke declined to comment on what Jamaicans could expect as he gears up to take on his appointment.

One journalist asked Clarke what he would say to people who love his work and now feel that he is abandoning them.

In a quick response Clarke said: “No, this is not the time for that”.

The Jamaica Observer then asked Clarke what he would say to the people who will miss him and want to know how he feels about his new move.

“Why don’t we do this another time? I want to do it another time, please,” responded Clarke.

In his address to the audience at Tuesday’s function at the JUTC’s depot in Braeton in Portmore, St Catherine, Holness said that he was not concerned, but was happy that one of his Cabinet ministers was tapped for such a high position in the IMF.

Holness argued that it was very important for political organisations to continue to attract new talent.

“Minister Clarke is leaving us to join the team at the IMF. It is interesting to see the perspectives being expressed on this. These things don’t happen overnight. These things are considered and we have to think about all the combination of outcomes to ensure the country’s best interest and that the country remains stable and continues on its pathway and trajectory.

“Dr Clarke’s appointment to the IMF can only be seen as affirmation and a compliment that the path that Jamaica has followed in institutional reforms and in making sure those changes are not personality based. It is institution based, it is about creating principles, policies, legislation and above all, a country. If ever there was an endorsement of Government policy, [Dr Clarke’s IMF appointment] is it. We are not a shallow institution and we don’t depend on one man alone. We have a diverse leadership group,” said Holness.

He added: “Every political organisation must be able to attract new talent. When I tapped Minister Clarke a couple years ago, he wasn’t in the political arena. I brought him in and my job as prime minister is to continue to scout the country for the incredible talent that exists to bring them into Government for the benefit of the Jamaican people. We need to create more people like Minister Clarke. The journey is not at an end.”

In the meantime Vaz told the audience that although Clarke will spend a lot of time at the IMF headquarters in Washington, he will be visiting him from time to time for guidance.

“When I go to the IMF to visit him, I am not going to be going to the IMF. I am going to my friend because I will need his guidance and counsel. It has been a pleasure to work with this man over the last two years. Of all the regional leaders and prime ministers praising Minister Clarke, you only need to read the Opposition’s statement saying that they are worried of what is going to happen now that Minister Clarke will no longer be here. That in itself is the biggest endorsement.

“Let me indicate to them that he is executing policies, but policies come from the Cabinet of the country. Rest easy that whoever his successor is, is going to give sound fiscal policies that will allow the country to continue on the trajectory that this minister led, through the ministry of finance,” declared Vaz.