KINGSTON, Jamaica, November 2, 2009 – Jamaica’s top cop has stepped down amid concerns about the police’s inability to deal with the country’s high murder rate.
Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, who still had another year in his contract, submitted his resignation with immediate effect.
The Jamaica Observer newspaper quoted minister with responsibility for information, Daryl Vaz, as confirming the resignation and saying that he expected the Police Service Commission to make the necessary appointment in the shortest possible time.
Vaz noted that there were concerns that the police force was not doing enough to deal with the crime situation in the country.
There have been over 1,000 murders reported so far for the year.
“It was therefore a concern about the administration of crime and what the results were showing,” he said.
Lewin, whose three-year contract would have come to an end in October 2010, took up the top position in the Jamaica Constabulary Force in 2007.
Before doing so, he served 36 years in the Jamaica Defence Force.
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua (AP) — Disgraced Texas financier R. Allen Stanford is being stripped of his knighthood in the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda, the head of the government panel that approves the awards said Monday.
The National Honours Committee voted unanimously to revoke Stanford’s title for embarrassing the nation by running an alleged Ponzi scheme out of his Antigua–based offshore bank, Chairwoman Jacqui Quinn–Leandro said.
Stanford, once a benefactor of the Antiguan government, is in jail in Texas awaiting charges for allegedly defrauding some 28,000 investors out of $7 billion by selling them what U.S. authorities say were bogus certificates of deposits.
“It’s not that we’re saying he’s guilty, but it’s the honour that has been brought into disrepute,” said Quinn–Leandro, also a member of Parliament.
Stanford received his knighthood in 2006 from the governor general — the representative of Queen Elizabeth II in the country — and was widely known as “Sir Allen” in the Caribbean nation. Critics have alleged he used the title’s prestige to help lure investors to buy CDs from his offshore bank while promising rates of return that were consistently higher than most financial institutions.
A group of investors has filed a lawsuit against Antigua and Barbuda alleging that local authorities failed to adequately monitor Stanford International Bank Ltd. and profited from the fraud. The financier provided loans to the government and became the country’s largest private employer, with businesses that included a development company, cricket stadium, newspaper, an airline and two restaurants.
Quinn–Leandro said the six–member honours committee, made up of senators and members of Parliament, voted last month and formally informed Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer of its decision in an Oct. 26 letter, but did not make a public announcement.
All that is required next is for Spencer to forward the decision to the country’s governor general for a signature, but that is considered a formality.
Featuring Michael Rose, David ‘Steel Pulse’ Hinds, General Levy , Anthony Johnson , Patrick Andy and more.
Enter your email address below to receive updates each time we publish new content.
SHABBA, SHAGGY TO PERFORM AT POST ADIDAS GRAND PRIX CONCERT IN NY
Foundation dancehall artiste Rexton Rawlston Gordon, popularly know to fans as Shabba Ranks is set to perform at the “adidas Jamboree” concert, Randall’s Island, New York on Saturday, June 9. The concert – which will serve as a 50th anniversary celebration for both Jamaica and Trinidad – will take place at the conclusion of the [...]
One Caribbean International Presents: CELEBRITY SOCCER CULTURAL FEST – THE BIGGEST FAMILY FUN DAY!
Fort Lauderdale – On Memorial Day, May 28th all roads will lead to the greatest Celebrity Soccer Cultural Festival in South Florida “Celebrating Jamaica’s 50th Year of Independence.” One Caribbean International’s will be hosting its’ 7th annual festival and Yes Jamaica’s 50th Year of Independence at Central Broward Regional Park, located at 3700 NW 11th [...]
About One Love Reggae Fest The One Love Reggae Festival will unite diverse cultures within South Florida through “One Love, One Heart and One Music”. This event will be held on Sunday, May 13, 2012 in West Palm Beach, Florida at the Cruzan Amphitheater. The 2011 Festival boasted a huge attendance of more than 5000 [...]
PM PORTIA SIMPSON-MILLER DA ZYNC BUZZ HEDA ROSE (NY LINKZ/ZYNC TV): May 4 – 11
BY ZYNC TV ON THIS WEEK’S EDITION OF NEW YORK LINKZ: JAMAICAN PRIME MINISTER PORTIA SIMPSON-MILLER VISITS THE NORTH-EAST DIASPORA; A PREVIEW OF THE FUN AND EXCITEMENT AT 2012 PENN RELAYS; A PREVIEW OF GRAMPS MORGAN AND RAGASHANTI TAKING OVER NEW YORK CARIBBEAN RADIO; PLUS SHERMAIN GIVES TIPS ON IMPRESSING YOUR BOYFRIEND’S PARENTS IN IMAGE [...]
Lloyd Brevett, founding member of The Skatalites, passes away aged 80
Lloyd Brevett, the Skatalites’ inimitable double bass player, has died following complications from a recent stroke. As The Washington Post report, Brevett fell ill in March following the murder of his son in Kingston. Anyone lucky enough to have seen The Skatalites live will be able to testify to Brevett’s remarkable charisma. His on-stage presence [...]
GFBC WORLD NEWS
