Lawmakers hail Nigel Clarke as 'remarkable' finance minister who served with 'distinction'

Government and Opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives are paying tribute to Dr Nigel Clarke, who resigns shortly as finance minister to take up a deputy managing director post at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Clarke announced Monday that his resignation as Member of Parliament for St Andrew North Western takes effect at midnight Tuesday. 

He has been serving as MP and finance minister since March 2018. 

"Dr Clarke has had a remarkable run for the last six years as an outstanding member of this Honourable House; an outstanding debater; an outstanding advocate of the people and an excellent minister of finance," said Edmund Bartlett, the leader of government business, who opened the tribute. 

Leader of Opposition Business Phillip Paulwell says outgoing finance minister Dr Nigel Clarke should be celebrated for his contributions to the work of Parliament. 

"The member has served with distinction. We have had reasons to disagree...but, that notwithstanding, I think we have to recognise the high quality that the member has brought to debates and the intellectual rigour," Paulwell said. 

Paulwell said Opposition Mark Golding is missing the House tribute because he is in Canada for a People's National Party event. 

Noting the "friendship" he has with Clarke, Opposition Spokesman on Finance Julian Robinson said Clarke's work and service deserved to be acknowledged. 

"There's no question that the member has made a positive contribution to Jamaica's development, not just in the house but prior to that in the senate and the boards on which he served. 

Thank you for what you have done. We wish you well as you move forward.

Government lawmakers Marlene Malahoo Forte and Desmond McKenzie have also paid tribute to Clarke. 

Clarke is due to take up the IMF job on October 31. 

Clarke has been credited with deepening Jamaica's macroeconomic sustainability, especially through the COVID-19 pandemic; implementing long-promised public sector reforms and institutional strengthening, among other things. 

But he has faced criticisms over the massive salary hikes for members of the political directorate, the country's low growth, and the government's handling of the alleged fraud at investment firm Stocks and Securities Limited. 

In his tribute, Prime Minister Andrew Holness noted that Clarke was always part of his plan to lift Jamaica out of its economic woes and to accelerate not just the IMF reform-programme but "Jamaica's programme of economic reform".

"We have gone through nine budgets and we have not increased taxes. Our reserves are at the highest levels they have been in decades. We have halved the national debt from 144% of GDP to 74% of GDP, these are real things that have happened to transform our economy under the direction of Minister Clarke as the minister of finance," he said.

Holness also pointed to Clarke's "baby," the Fiscal Commission, which he said is "an important institutional legacy". 

"It will ensure that even if the political space has narrowed that the policies to ensure the fiscal sustainability of Jamaica will remain," the prime minister said.

He also acknowledged Clarke's role the enactment of a law to formerly establish an independent central bank and the placement of an international instrument in denominated in the Jamaican dollar. 

On the controversial public sector compensation review, Holness said "I must tell you that Dr Clarke too that one on fully and personally". 

Prime Minister Holness has not announced Clarke's replacement though he said in August that a successor has been identified. 

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