Danville the boss!

• US Embassy applauds Government over decision to appoint Walker to head Customs
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THE JAMAICAN Government's decision to appoint Danville Walker to head the Customs Department in May 2008 received the thumbs up from United States Embassy officials, who had high praises for the outspoken public official.

In a secret United States (US) diplomatic cable, accessed by The Gleaner from WikiLeaks, former US Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson congratulated the Government on the appointment of the "widely respected former director of elections" to the post of commissioner of customs.

At a private meeting in June 2008 with Dr Ken Baugh, deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, LaGrange Johnson divulged that the embassy had worked closely with Walker "in recent years" and had full confidence in his abilities and integrity to reform Jamaica Customs.

Walker was forced to resign as director of elections on May 5, 2008, because he was an American citizen.

Under the Jamaican Constitution, anyone who swears allegiance to a foreign power is barred from holding positions such as director of elections, senator and member of parliament.

Lewin had US support

At the June meeting, LaGrange Johnson also reportedly told Dr Baugh that the US was greatly relieved that then police commissioner Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin had withdrawn his resignation.

LaGrange Johnson had expressed the view that Lewin deserved the full support of both the US and Jamaica in ongoing efforts to reduce the country's spiralling crime rate and root out corruption in the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

Lewin, on June 3, 2008, resigned, but later rescinded after intense discussions with members of the Police Service Commission.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding had told Parliament that Lewin had his full support, following his change of heart to remain in the position of top cop.

However, one year and five months later, in November 2009, Admiral Lewin finally called it quits after weeks of speculation that he would go.