KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Youth, Marsha Smith, Tuesday resigned with immediate effect.
Marsha Smith (File Photo)A statement from the Office of the Prime Minister confirmed that Smith, the parliamentary representative for North East St Ann, had resigned.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness thanked Smith, who is the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) legislator for her service in representational politics
Her resignation comes a few months after she had been replaced as constituency chairman by Senator Matthew Samuda, who is expected to be the party’s standard-bearer in the constituency at the next general election.
Samuda currently serves as Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth & Job Creation.
“I have known Matthew for many years. I consider him my younger brother. Matthew is a natural politician,” said Holness, who presented him as he JLP’s standard-bearer at an event in the constituency last year November.
Media reports said that Smith had come under fire from constituents who have accused her of being an ineffective Member of Parliament.
Smith defeated Keith Brown of the main opposition People’s National Party (PNP) by 4,442 votes, polling 9,169 to her opponent’s 4,747 in the 2020 general election.
