JAMAICA | JAS President Fulton Decries Minister Green's Support of "Illegal" AGM, Mischaracterization of JAS

MONTEGO BAY, July 18, 2024 - Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) President Lenworth Fulton has expressed deep disappointment over Agriculture Minister Floyd Green's apparent disregard for a Supreme Court order by supporting what Fulton calls an "illegal" Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the organization.

In a strongly worded statement, Fulton criticized Minister Green for ignoring a May 14, 2024 Supreme Court injunction that barred the JAS from holding its July 10th AGM.

The injunction, filed by JAS board member Lawrence Robertson in July 2023, called for a special audit to investigate over $53 million in collected rental over a decade and to examine one of JAS's subsidiaries.

"It is disconcerting that Minister Green would support an AGM in direct contravention of a Supreme Court order," Fulton stated.

"The Minister had been provided with all relevant court documents, yet the Ministry claims ignorance of the court order. This is deeply troubling and raises serious questions about the Ministry's respect for the rule of law."

Fulton further expressed dismay at Minister Green's characterization of the JAS as a statutory body in a recent Ministry press release.

"Minister Green should know that the Jamaica Agricultural Society, with its 130-year history, is not a statutory body but a member-driven organization," Fulton emphasized.

"The government has no authority over the administrative operations of the JAS, and this mischaracterization demonstrates a concerning lack of understanding or deliberate misrepresentation of our organization's nature."

The JAS President called for the withdrawal of the Ministry's "erroneous" press release and demanded corrective actions to prevent future misinformation.

He stressed that the JAS board is composed of representatives from various agricultural subsectors, parish bodies, and other stakeholders, unlike statutory boards appointed by the government.

Fulton also highlighted ongoing resistance to the court-ordered audit from within the JAS and the Ministry, suggesting a potential "cover-up of corruption." He called for transparency and adherence to legal processes in addressing these concerns.

As the controversy unfolds, questions arise about the relationship between the Ministry of Agriculture and the JAS, as well as the implications of conducting an AGM against a standing court order. The situation continues to develop, with potential legal and organizational repercussions for all parties involved.

In the meantime, Contempt of court proceedings have been brought against Minister  Floyd Green and four executive members of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) for allegedly disobeying a Supreme Court order.

The claim, which was filed Wednesday by Lawrence 'Larry' Robertson, a member of the board of the JAS, stemmed from an annual general meeting of the JAS which was held on July 10 despite a court order which barred the holding of such a meeting.

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