JUNIOR foreign minister Ronald Robinson has resigned citing personal reasons and his involvement in the Manatt, Phelps and Phillips controversy.

Robinson cited the health of his wife who has undergone two major surgeries, the most recent being this week.

"It is clear that with the pressures of being minister of state over the last two and a half years it has taken its toll and I have not been able to be as supportive as I need to be to her," he wrote in his resignation letter.

He went on to admit culpability for the Manatt affair in which the governing Jamaica Labour Party hired the services of the United States law firm to lobby that country's government over their attempts to extradite Christopher 'Dudus' Coke on guns and drug trafficking charges.

With regards to the current topical situation of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips  I acknowledge that my contact with the form could be perceived as inappropriate and for that I accept responsibility and should not have met with them and for this I apologise," he said.