President David Granger said Minister Valerie Adams-Yearwood was transferred from the Ministry of Communities to the Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Rural Affairs in the public’s interest given the allegations of conflict of interest that have surfaced recently.

The Minister’s husband Godfrey Yearwood was awarded contracts by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) before and after they got married in August 2017, though she was the minister responsible for housing. President Granger said while allegations have been levied against Adams-Yearwood, she has not committed a crime. “She has not been convicted of any crime and I feel that her services could be used in supporting the Minister of Agriculture with responsibility for rural affairs,” President Granger told reporters on the sideline of a swearing-in ceremony at the Ministry of the Presidency on Thursday.

He disclosed that after the allegations surfaced, he met with Minister Adams-Yearwood during which time she offered clarification on the matter. “At this point, I am satisfied that she has not committed any criminal offence and she is a fit and proper person to continue to serve in the Department of Rural Affairs in the Ministry of Agriculture,” President Granger said.

Minister Adams-Yearwood had explained that said her husband was awarded contracts through the official bidding process, even as she denied allegations that she influenced the process to allow for her husband to be awarded the contracts.

“I had no input whatsoever, with regard to the award of these contracts,” Minister Adams-Yearwood said. According to her, she only became aware that her husband had been awarded contracts to build a number of housing units when he informed her.

Adams-Yearwood said her husband, a well-known contractor for over 33 years, was contracted by CHPA to construct one duplex unit, two single elevated units and two units for the differently-abled – a total of three contracts. These contracts, she noted, were all signed in 2017 with the final one signed in December 2017.

“Prior to that, he was contracted early 2017 along with another contractor to do rehabilitation works at the Linden office to which both contractors were highly commended (publicly) by the CEO, Mr. Lelon Saul,” she posited.

The former Housing Minister had emphasized that all the contracts awarded to her husband were done through the correct and legal process. “Like all other contractors, every contract that Mr. Yearwood has received was done through the official bidding process. Every contract that was/is engaged in was awarded by the competent authority – the Board of Directors of CHPA, of which I am not a member. Like all other contractors, Mr. Yearwood is subject to the same rules and regulations, without exception,” she said.

Adams-Yearwood was not present at the Ministry of the Presidency to receive her letter of appointment from the President however, last Friday she told reporters that the transfer is not a demotion but rather a promotion. According to she will use the new portfolio to encourage more young people to get involved in agriculture.

“It will focus mainly on empowering youths in the agriculture sector; getting them back to the farms because, outside of oil, agriculture is the way to go,” she said, adding: “I see it as a promotion because I’m going into new and exciting areas and I’m up for the challenge.” “What is demotion?” Minister Adams-Yearwood is now replaced by former Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson.