Peter Phillips: ‘Prosperity only run for Ruel Reid and some others’

Speaking to comrades during a tour of St Catherine which ended in Old Harbour this afternoon, Phillips was also quick to highlight the party’s contribution of the current status of the economy. But he believes that the economic gains made by the country are being undermined by recent corruption charges brought against Reid and four others accused.

With the PNP’s St Catherine South West caretaker/candidate Dr Kurt Waul by his side, the opposition leader said: “In 2011 Andrew (Holness) promised them ‘bitter medicine’. We come, we fix it. It was hard it was difficult, everybody mek sacrifice… but we fix it so much him (Andrew Holness) promise prosperity. But the prosperity no run. If it run is only Ruel Reid and some other people it run fah. It no run fi di res a wi.”

Reid, his wife Sharen, daughter Sharelle, head of the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) Professor Fritz Pinnock and JLP councillor for the Brown’s Town Division in St. Ann North West, Kim Brown-Lawrence were all charged on October 9 by investigators from the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) and Financial Investigative Division (FID) for multiple breaches under the Corruption Prevention Act and the Proceeds of Crime Act in what is now known as the Education Ministry/CMU scandal.

They were all offered bail with surety when they appeared in the St Andrew Parish Court on Thursday. Their next court appearance is scheduled for January 23, 2020.

Based on investigation, which started as far back as March this year, the prosecution is alleging that Reid and his co-accused siphoned state funds amounting to more than $50 million for personal use.

All have denied the charges.