Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Marlene Malahoo Forte, is rejecting a Gleaner report suggesting the JLP Government plans to target civil servants with personal political preferences.
She’s responding to a Jamaica Gleaner article published online today, July 21, under the headline “JLP Gov’t to clamp down on politically driven civil servants.”
But Minister Malahoo Forte says the report does not accurately reflect her statements.
Chevon Campbell tells us more.
According to the Gleaner article, while addressing the JLP’s Area Council Four meeting at the Anchovy High School in St. James on Sunday, Minister Marlene Malahoo Forte pointed to reports of public servants being partisan in the execution of their duties.
The article continued, saying the minister stated that based on which party was in power, segments of the public service were either unwilling to do their jobs properly or felt secure enough in their positions to underperform.
The newspaper said Minister Malahoo Forte told Labourties at the meeting that during the JLP’s next term, the Holness Administration would ensure that government clients are well served, and the public and civil servants would better serve the people.
However, in responding to the newspaper article on Monday, the Legal Affairs Minister says any suggestion that the government is seeking to ‘clamp down on’ or discriminate against civil servants is a gross misrepresentation of her remarks.
The minister says she did not indicate any such move, and this is absolutely not the intention of the government.
She points to the government’s record of supporting civil servants through significant investments, including what she described as the largest public sector compensation package in Jamaica’s history.
Mrs. Malahoo Forte adds that she has the utmost respect for civil servants, many of whom work under challenging circumstances to keep the machinery of government running smoothly.
She says her remarks were never intended to cast aspersions on their professionalism.
Meanwhile, JLP General Secretary Dr. Horace Chang, says the party is committed to fair and just treatment of all members of the labour force in Jamaica.
He says there’s absolutely no intention to target any member of the civil service.
Dr. Chang says it must be noted that it is in the JLP’s DNA to pursue measures that uplift Jamaicans, including members of civil service.
It says this is while creating an environment that is conducive to their growth, development and self-actualisation.
Dr. Chang welcomes clarification from Constitutional Affairs Minister of her remarks made on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
Dr. Chang says Minister Malahoo Forte’s affirmation in her statement that the government of the JLP will not pursue a policy of victimising any civil servant accurately reflects the position of the party.
He says the JLP was founded in 1943 with a strong commitment to protecting the dignity and rights of members of the labour force in Jamaica, including the poor and dispossessed.
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