DR Vincent Lawerence, the powerful public servant, who has been called everything including ‘god’ by his critics, yesterday announced his impending departure from the public service, an exit which coincides with that of his close personal friend, Prime Minister P J Patterson.

Lawrence’s declared intention was made yesterday morning following a breakfast meeting at the corporate offices of Air Jamaica in downtown Kingston, in a question and answer session with reporters.

He said it was his final meeting as executive chairman of the airline, after taking the helm following the pull-out of the Gordon “Butch” Stewart-led Air Jamaica Acquisition Group.

According to Lawrence, it was always his plan to leave the public service on reaching age 60, a milestone he reached on September 23.

Lawrence, contacted on is cell phone last night, declined to comment further on the issue as he said that he was in a meeting.

When he was press, he said: “The Observer was represented at the meeting this (Thursday) morning, so I don’t know what the questions could be about.”

Lawrence is disliked as much as he is liked, but has been praised for his business acumen.

He sits and several boards of government corporation and is often considered as the real power in the administration’s ‘kitchen cabinet’.

He heads or holds executive positions on a number of public and private sector entities in Jamaica. His chairmanship or executive status of boards, crosses all political lines.

An engineer by profession, Lawrence has for years been at the helm of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), the richest and most powerful government agency in the country.

He was a member of the Air Jamaica board, before becoming executive chairman. He is chairman of National Hotels and Properties and the Jamaica Bauxite and Aluminum Trading Company.

He is deputy chairman of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, and serve as director of the National Investment Bank of Jamaica, Petrojam, and Clarendon Aluminum Production Ltd.

He is a member of the executive committee of West Indies Alumina Company (WINDALCO) and JAMALCO, as well as a member of the committee of St Ann Bauxite Company Limited.

Privately, Lawrence is chairman of Gentech Consultants Ltd, Jamaica Engineering and Technical Services Ltd, Gentech Exploration Services Ltd, and Lawrence and Associates.

He is a high-ranking member of the National Executive Council of the ruling People’s National Party.