KINGSTON, Jamaica - Jamaica's Supreme Court has ruled that Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith committed no breach in relation to donations received in her failed bid for the post of Commonwealth Secretary General.
The lawsuit, brought by US based Jamaican Wilfred Rattigan, sought a declaration that Johnson Smith and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade did not comply with the statutory and administrative regulations under the Financial Administration and Audit Act (FAA) with respect to a US$99,000 donation/gift by “corporate Jamaica”
Acting Puisne Judge Justice Dale Staple, in his judgement, said: “It is my considered view that the claimant does not have the required standing to bring this claim and it should therefore be struck out.
“It is also my finding that, even if he had standing to bring the claim, there are not sufficient grounds upon which to bring the claim. There is simply, in my view, no evidence of the breaches the claimant is asking the court to find that the respondents committed,” he said.
Speaking Wednesday afternoon after the ruling, Johnson Smith said the case was baseless and unfounded.
“This ruling vindicates my integrity, as I have always maintained my innocence, and the court’s decision reflects the truth I have upheld from the beginning that the case was baseless and unfounded.”
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to the many Jamaican people who have reached out to me with unwavering support and belief in my integrity during this challenging period. As I move forward, I remain steadfast in my commitment to serving Jamaica as its foreign affairs minister. My focus continues to be on representing our nation with honour and integrity on the international stage,” Johnson Smith said.
In September 2022 the Government named GraceKennedy Limited, the Musson Group, and Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica head Keith Duncan as corporate Jamaica members that helped to finance the US$99,000 contract awarded to Finn Partners to provide international communication services for Jamaica’s candidature for the Commonwealth secretary general post.
