Mark Beckford, Staff Reporter

Major General Stewart Saunders (left), the new Chief of Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), leads outgoing Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin after an inspection of parade troops during yesterday's Change of Command ceremony at Up Park Camp. Rear Admiral Lewin bows out after 36 years of service in the JDF. - Norman Grindley/ Deputy Chief Photographer

Against a backdrop of the green hills of St. Andrew, and marching and transfixed soldiers, Major General Stewart Saunders officially took over the role of Chief of Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) during a Change of Command Parade at the Polo Field at Up Park Camp in St. Andrew, yesterday afternoon.

In a ceremony with few glitches and much precision, Major General Saunders became the ninth Chief of Staff, succeeding Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin.

Hundreds of individuals from the Government, the military, the diplomatic community and the general public turned out to see the ceremony heralding the new head of the JDF. The event was filled with pomp and pageantry as soldiers, dressed in their respective regalia, marched to the delight of those present.

In his acceptance speech, Maj. Gen. Saunders said he would be concentrating on the continued transformation of the JDF during his tenure.

"I am very much aware of what the Government and the nation require of the Jamaica Defence Force, and the capabilities that have to be achieved to satisfy this requirement," he said. "It is important that as a military entity, we continue to be relevant to the society we serve and its interests."

Outgoing Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Lewin, served the force for 36 years, the last five and a half years as Chief of Staff. In his farewell speech, Rear Admiral Lewin thanked his family, the JDF and the public for their support and said that while his time was productive, more needed to be done to improve the force.

"It is critical that we continue to build this important national institution, the Jamaica Defence Force, brick by brick, layer by layer."

As he departed the ceremony at 4:15 to cheers of 'Hip, hip, hooray!' and then strains of Time to Say Good Bye from the band, narrator Merrick Needham quipped: "There he goes, but who knows, not for long."

Lewin is tipped to become the next Commissioner of Police on the retirement of Lucius Thomas this week.