Shelly-Ann Thompson, Staff Reporter

Commissioner of Police Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin (right), greets Colonel Trevor MacMillan, minister of national security, prior to a meeting held between Prime Minister Bruce Golding and the Police High Command at the Police Officers' Club in St Andrew yesterday. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Commissioner of Police, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, has dismissed claims that he is unhappy with the appointment of Colonel Trevor MacMillan as minister of national security - a leading role to a man with a lower Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) rank than his.

Shortly before his first official meeting with MacMillan, at the Police Officers' Club in St Andrew yesterday, Lewin called for a cessation to rumours that he may be offended that his JDF colleague will now be in charge of national security policy.

"That is absolute rubbish and people should stop it immediately," Lewin told The Gleaner.

"If the minister is a civilian, if the minister is a corporal, if the minister is a colonel, the minister is the minister," the police commissioner added.

While awaiting the arrival of Prime Minister Bruce Golding, Lewin joked with MacMillan about the sentiments passed about their military ranks and current posts.

Earlier, after taking the oath of office at King's House, MacMillan told journalists he and Lewin share "an excellent relationship".

Today, Lewin and MacMillan will be the main speakers at the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police conference to be held at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Hotel in Ocho Rios, St Ann.

"Fact of life, I am not operational now. I am policy and I am going to look forward to that," MacMillan said.

shelly-ann.thompson@gleanerjm.com