Mrs. Amanda Stewart, the newly-appointed Commissioner of the Royal Anguilla Police Force, has resigned her post after six weeks on the job. Her immediate resignation came in the wake of an interview article in the Belfast Telegraph dated August 4, 2015, and written by Christopher Woodhouse who attributed certain remarks about Anguilla to her, and the flurry of criticisms on the island that resulted. She issued an apology immediately afterward saying, among other things, that she was misrepresented.
Mrs. Amanda Stewart
In the meantime, an invitation was circulated by the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association to its members to attend a meeting on Wednesday this week at which the Commissioner was expected to address them on her plans to deal with crime and law and order on the island. But that meeting was cancelled when it was announced by the Governor’s Office that Commissioner Stewart had resigned with immediate effect and that Governor Christina Scott had accepted her resignation.
The Governor’s Office also announced interim arrangements for the leadership of the Royal Anguilla Police Force. She advised that “Deputy Commissioner Alice Proctor has been appointed Acting Police Commissioner and Superintendent Elliott Forbes has been appointed Acting Deputy Commissioner” and promised that “further information about the appointment of a permanent successor to Mrs. Stewart will be made in due course”.
The Governor released the exchange of letters between the Commissioner and her as follows:
Letter from Mrs Stewart to the Governor
17 August 2015
Further to our conversations in recent days, I am writing formally to hand in my resignation with immediate effect.
Since I arrived in Anguilla, I have given the role my all and was working hard to improve policing on this island. I oversaw the policing of a safe and successful Summer Carnival, and arranged for specialised training for all CID officers and monthly professional development training for all officers. I had commenced work on increasing the visibility of the RAPF on the streets and focused on planning to tackle serious crimes. All of this was what I had come to Anguilla to do.
Following the newspaper article published in Belfast, I have been the subject of intense media and social media criticism with calls for my resignation, not because of the job I was trying to do, but because of quotes taken out of context. As soon as I saw the article I issued an honest and sincere apology for any offence caused, but the personal criticism has continued. This has now affected my health and I have been left with no alternative than to resign and leave Anguilla.
I am sorry that I have let people down who supported me and put faith in me to do this job. I should like to take this opportunity to thank the officers of the Royal Anguilla Police Force for their welcome and support. They do a difficult job in challenging circumstances. I wish them the very best for the future as they work to keep Anguilla safe and secure.
With best wishes,
Mrs Amanda Stewart
Letter from the Governor to Mrs Stewart
17 August 2015
Dear Mrs Stewart,
Thank you for your letter earlier this evening confirming your desire to leave the position of Commissioner of the Royal Anguilla Police Force with immediate effect.
It is with regret that I accept your resignation. In the 6 weeks that you have been in Anguilla I have seen the determination and energy you have brought to the role. Your focus on supporting the development of officers including negotiating additional training resources, the steps taken to build stronger partnerships with other Government agencies, and the changes you have started with a view to bringing community policing to the streets of Anguilla have all been impressive.
I know that you are grateful for the support you have received from officers in the RAPF, and that you wish nothing but the best for the Force. I appreciate this has not been an easy period for you, and I am grateful for the integrity with which you have conducted yourself throughout.
May I take this opportunity to wish you and Don all the best for the future,
Yours, Christina
Christina Scott
Governor
