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News

Court upholds policeman Hewitt's promotion

JFJ to appeal

BY PAUL HENRY henryp@jamaicaobserver.com

Tuesday, October 30, 2012 | 3:13 PM



KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Full Court on Tuesday upheld the promotion of noted crime fighter Delroy Hewitt to the rank of senior superintendent.

The Judicial Review Court in April reserved judgement on a motion brought by human rights group Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ), which is seeking the reversal of Hewitt's April 2011 promotion.

JFJ had challenged the decision of the Police Service Commission (PSC) to promote Hewitt, despite what the rights group said were allegations that, if taken into consideration, would have prevented his ascension.

JFJ Executive Director Dr Carolyn Gomes told the Jamaica Observer that the ruling would be appealed.

She had previously described Hewitt's promotion as "egregious".

The rights group, through its attorneys, had asked the court to quash the PSC's order to promote Hewitt, who heads the tough St Andrew South Police Division.

JFJ has also asked for an order directing the PSC to reconsider the recommendation for the promotion.

According to the JFJ, the senior crime fighter — who once headed the Kingston Western Police Division — should not have been promoted due to the fact that there is a list of more than two-dozen allegations of wrongdoing against him.

JFJ brought the court action after writing to the PSC between 2009 and 2011 asking, to no avail, for the allegations to be investigated, Gomes told the Observer previously.

But the PSC legal team from the Attorney General Chambers argued that Hewitt's promotion was lawful and done in accordance with the relevant guidelines.

The PSC's legal team also argued that the complaints against Hewitt were looked into but that the decision was still taken to promote him, in accordance with the Police Service Regulations.



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