Jamaica's Education Minister apologizes for extortionist comments and vowed to work with Teachers

​Jamaica's Education Minister Senator Ruel Reid, yesterday, made a public apology to the nation's teachers and school administrators for his reference to several learning institutions as extortionists. "The satisfaction of teachers and effective administration of our schools run in my blood, having been a classroom teacher, master teacher.
 
A repentant Reid, JTA (Jamaica Teachers' Association) president, now minister, and a parent," made that remark yesterday, while addressing the 53rd annual conference of the JTA at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa in Montego Bay.
 
"It is also my desire that we are as satisfied as possible, so it is within this context and with respect to the wonderful relationship that we have had - the leadership of the JTA, the principals' association, and our boards - and so as a lay preacher myself, I have to lead by example (and I remember, at times, Jesus Himself used some harsh words and He Himself had to reflect on it), and I have personally reached out and have withdrawn those statements, but I want to publicly apologize for any hurt that may have occurred in that regard."