Former Commissioner of Police and Chief of Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Rear Admiral HardleyLewin, is to take up duties as Managing Director of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), effective March 12, 2012. This follows the January 15 resignation and pending departure of Managing Director Paul Abrahams, who has opted to return to private enterprise.

The Rear Admiral’s appointment, on a three-year contract, has been approved by the Board of the JUTC and sanctioned by the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing.

In commenting on the appointment of the new Managing Director of the JUTC, Board Chairman, Dr. Garnett Roper, said Rear Admiral Lewin is bringing some 40 years of experience in the public service, through the military and the police force, to the JUTC. The Rear Admiral was Chief of Staff of the JDF from May 2002 to October 2007, and Commissioner of Police from December 2007 to November 2009.

“As part of that overall experience, he had responsibility for the largest transportation fleets in the country, on land, sea and in the air, and is therefore very experienced in logistic systems and discipline. Indeed, he has an outstanding all-round record of public service,” outlined Dr. Roper.

The Board Chairman expressed thanks to the outgoing Managing Director for his contribution to the company over more than three years.