Minister Vaz Pays Tribute to Former Permanent Secretary, Carol Palmer

Minister of Energy, Transport and Telecommunications, Hon. Daryl Vaz, has hailed former Permanent Secretary, Carol Palmer, as a visionary and transformative leader, and a key figure in the Ministry’s success.

Mr. Vaz said that Mrs. Palmer played an instrumental role when he was appointed to head the Ministry in 2000 and had to take on the task of converting the Ministry into a better and more effective institution.

“When I came to that Ministry in 2020… I was given the task [of transformation]. With the help of PS Palmer, we have been there for five years, and the only thing that comes out of that Ministry now is good performance,” Mr. Vaz said, in his tribute at a recent post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.

“It could not be done by me alone, but with the leadership of the Permanent Secretary and the entire Ministry team,” he pointed out.

Mrs. Palmer, who demitted office recently, has served 23 years as a Permanent Secretary, including at the Ministry of Justice.

She is known for her role in public policy development, criminal justice reform, and leading the anti-trafficking in persons programme.

Minister Vaz expressed sincere gratitude to Mrs. Palmer for her years of service.

He said that he will be making every effort to ensure that her wealth of knowledge and experience are retained.

New Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Kedesha Campbell Rochester, assumed office on January 14.