Jamaica finance minister pushes back on reports naming BOJ governor front-runner
Key Points(5)
- In a statement issued Sunday, Williams said Cabinet had not been informed of any front-runner and cautioned that public speculation and the naming of potential candidates could compromise the integrity of the selection process.
- She said applications for the position were received and reviewed exclusively by the search committee, which has not yet presented its shortlist to Cabinet.
- “The committee has not yet tendered its shortlist,” Williams said, noting that the process remains ongoing.
- The minister did not indicate whether Robinson had applied for the position, been interviewed, or was among the candidates under consideration.
- Her statement focused on the status of the formal selection process and the fact that no recommendation had been submitted to Cabinet.
Jamaica’s Minister of Finance and the Public Service Fayval Williams says the committee tasked with finding the next governor of the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) has not yet submitted a shortlist of candidates to Cabinet, pushing back against reports that Senior Deputy Governor Dr Wayne Robinson is the leading contender for the post.
In a statement issued Sunday, Williams said Cabinet had not been informed of any front-runner and cautioned that public speculation and the naming of potential candidates could compromise the integrity of the selection process.
She said applications for the position were received and reviewed exclusively by the search committee, which has not yet presented its shortlist to Cabinet.
“The committee has not yet tendered its shortlist,” Williams said, noting that the process remains ongoing.
The minister did not indicate whether Robinson had applied for the position, been interviewed, or was among the candidates under consideration. Her statement focused on the status of the formal selection process and the fact that no recommendation had been submitted to Cabinet.
The comments followed a report in the Sunday Finance which, citing a senior government source, said Robinson was considered the leading candidate to succeed outgoing BOJ Governor Richard Byles.
The report noted that no final decision had been made and that it was unclear whether Cabinet had received any recommendation from the committee.
Efforts to reach Williams for comment before the report’s publication were unsuccessful, with calls to her cellphone unanswered. Further attempts to contact the minister after the release of her statement were also unsuccessful.
Williams said the current process mirrors the approach used seven years ago to select Byles, with candidates interviewed before the committee presents its findings.
She added that the committee is expected to complete its work by the end of July.
The committee was appointed in April and is responsible for identifying a shortlist of qualified candidates. Cabinet will then review the names and determine the individual to be recommended to the governor general for appointment under the Bank of Jamaica Act.
Byles was appointed governor effective August 19, 2019, after coming out of retirement. His term is scheduled to end in August.
Robinson, the BOJ’s second-highest-ranking executive, is an ex-officio member of the central bank’s board, Monetary Policy Committee, Financial Policy Committee, Supervisory Committee, and Financial System Stability Committee.
The career central banker has played a key role in the development and implementation of Jamaica’s monetary policy framework and financial market reforms.
