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Embattled pastor Merrick 'Al' Miller gave in to mounting criticism and announced yesterday that he was taking a break from his position as head of the National Transformation Programme (NTP).

Miller is booked to appear in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court today on charges of harbouring a fugitive and perver-ting the course of justice stemming from his role in the capture of one-time fugitive, Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

In a statement yesterday, Miller said one of the reasons for taking a leave of absence from the NTP was to ensure that his legal woes do not prejudice or cause any distraction for a "critical" programme.

"These matters speak to some of the fundamental issues facing our nation that will enable us to make a quantum leap toward the trans-formation of Jamaica, land we love," he said.

The NTP, also called 'Fresh Start Jamaica', is a parastatal body within the Office of the Prime Minister which was given the task of helping to kick-start a process of positive change among Jamaicans.

Thanks to god

Miller, who is also pastor of the very popular St Andrew-based Fellowship Tabernacle church, said the break would also allow him to give full attention to defending the charges brought against him.

"But more importantly, the defence of the principles of trust, truth, responsibility and justice," he said.

"I am also happy and thankful to God for the resolution of this issue, which has cost the country dearly in image, resources and lives. It was a resolution without any further loss, while serving the process of justice," Miller added.

An arrest warrant was out for Coke's arrest when he was captured in Miller's sport utility vehicle along Mandela Highway last Tuesday.

The popular evangelical preacher claimed, in his defence, that he was taking Coke to the United States Embassy in St Andrew, where the accused drug kingpin wanted to turn himself in.

After two days of questioning by detectives from the Organised Crime Investigation Division, Miller was arrested and charged.

Shortly after his arrest, the Opposition People's National Party called on the Government to sack him as head of the NTP.

While not questioning Miller's intent, a number of religious leaders questioned his actions, given the fact that an arrest warrant was out for Coke, making him a fugitive from Jamaican law.

During Wednesday's weekly post-Cabinet press briefing, Information Minister Daryl Vaz cautioned against a rush to judgement, pointing to Miller's role in helping several "persons of interest" to turn themselves in to the police and trying to broker Coke's surrender.