Lieutenant Found Guilty Of Sexual Misconduct With Private, Was Nugged To Resign
January 29 | By Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie |
JDF Colonel , Casualty of Sexual Misconduct
You will no doubt recall our published story of a sexual encounter that went public that occured in the army. Is this a typical case of all is well that ends well. Did it really? Or a typical lesson that if you go down a slippery slope you could break that part of your anatomy normally reserved for sitting?
This exclusive interview was monitored by Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie, it appears to be the culmination of a case reported before, of a female private and a lieutenant in the army in Jamaica. A juicy piece on a sexual relationship which is forbidden in the army, that went very wrong.
The Jamaica Defence Force (Army) finally comes clean on Sexual misconduct scandal.
“We did not Communicate well” Lieutenant General Rocky Meade, aka CDS or head of the army admitted and alogized
The case of the female private who was pursued by a Senior Officer (Lieutenant). The private had sexual relations with the Senior officer. She was found guilty on all charges. There were three counts of sexual misconduct.
Lieutenant General Rocky Meade
“Both parties admitted to a sexual relationship. The relationship was consensual.”
Force Executive Officer Weims Gorman was present on the radio interview.
“Lieutenant and Private were both found guilty of conduct contrary to military discipline. On the 18th January 2021 the Private’s case was disposed of. The Officer was fined the maximum allowed under law, on the 22nd January 2021.
CDS: “Senior and Warrant officer are treated differently. We did not communicate very well. I indicated to the officer that I had lost confidence in him. He served the army for three years. He has since resigned from the army. The matter including his resignation were referred to the Defence Board who accepted his resignation.”
Lieutenant General Rocky Meade speaking on a radio interview with Cliff Hughes and Tyrone Reid on Nationwide News Network (NNN).
Commodore Weims Gorman
“The JDF I joined many years ago is a different organization than it was before. There is Gender Optimisation Policy. Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault policy has been in place since 2018.
Commodore stated on radio.
Q. Have you had anything like that?.
A. I have heard of incidences. I have not had any such experience. “
Q. What are the lessons learned?
A. “We did not do a very good job at communicating. He did the best to explain as he did. He tried to say he had to be careful how you try things like matters before a semi-judicial court”
Q. What is the future of the female soldier?
A. “I have recommended that she be seen by the Chaplaincy unit and: that she gets counselling. She was moved to another unit before the trial. She has asked for a transfer which was granted. I expect her to have a long and rewarding career in the army”
CDS Meade concluded.
Commodore Weiss Gorman said:
“Senior Officers gave me an opportunity to advance in the army. It is not a boys club.”
Commentary
Why was the female Private ordered to serve 14 days and the Officer was just fined? No prison time for him. Justice is supposed to be blind. Equally administered across the board. That is why jackass say, the world is not level.
I just shook my head in awe as I listened to this interview live on radio. Unfolding live and direct for all to hear. It was indeed ground breaking on at least two fronts. Firstly the army does not normally speak on such matters publicly. And secondly the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) aka Lieutenant General Rocky Meade has never spoken publicly on such a matters and any other CDS before him. Never before has this happened, as far as I am aware in my over 40 years in media.
“There were no allegations of sexual assault, so there was no violation of the Sexual Fraternisation Policy. I cannot fire an officer. It was all consensual.
Lieutenant General Rocky Meade, head of the army.
As you live you learn. Just keep an open mind. There was considerable reputational damage to the JDF. The army head did two radio interviews yesterday. The one on NNN that we are reporting on. We have no information on what was said on the other interview done elsewhere. Was the sexual relationship consensual? The army head said it was.
Was the Private fairly treated? You be the judge.
Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is a veteran journalist who has International exposure.
The female Pte should be exonerated from the 14 day sentence. The officer was rightly disciplined and his resignation fully accepted. Their should be no further reciprocity to the female soldier and her career should continue.
The officer should have known better. Even though consensus for both, she is a Pte. .he is an officer…no excuse.