Ambassador Audrey Marks pays tribute to Jamaican-American military trailblazer, Lt. General Vincent R. Stewart

Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks has expressed sadness at the passing of retired Marine Corps Lt Gen Vincent R Stewart, a Jamaican American engineer, trailblazer, and unwavering supporter of Jamaica who passed away on April 28, surrounded by his family

Ambassador Marks, in paying tribute to this distinguished leader, noted that he was the first Marine and the first African American to lead the United States Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)

She pointed out that General Stewart was a born Jamaican, who, like so many others had adopted the United States as his home, excelled in the United States military, and had become a source of pride for Jamaica

Ambassador Audrey Marks said “Although Lt General Stewart migrated at a young age to the US, he maintained great affinity to the land of his birth and was passionate about Jamaica’s development This passion and his experience in security led him to champion Plan Secure Jamaica with valuable input in the area of cyber security ”

He was known for his mentorship and guidance, always seeking to share his experience and knowledge In addition, his dedication to fostering a more inclusive environment in the military and the wider engineering community was instrumental in breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for countless individuals

Lt General Stewart was pivotal in promoting the Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) This prestigious event recognizes the significant contributions of African American professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields He believed that he could inspire the next generation of Black engineers to pursue their dreams by acknowledging and celebrating these achievements

Throughout his 38-year career, Lt Gen Stewart held numerous leadership positions He began his military career by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps, where he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a decorated officer with numerous commendations for his service Not only being the first Marine Corps officer to become Director of the U S Defense Intelligence Agency but he also took charge of the Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance His previous positions included senior intelligence planner for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Director of Intelligence for Marine Corps

Headquarters and commanding general of U S Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace

Lt. Gen. Stewart received his baccalaureate degree from Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL He also earned master’s degrees in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College and National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Washington, D C

Ambassador Marks also expressed condolences to his family and friends on behalf of the government and the people of Jamaica

Trinidadian police deny state of emergency coming

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has refuted claims circulating on social media regarding an impending state of emergency saying it is intended to cause panic among the population

Police Commissioner, Erla HarewoodChristopher, who on Tuesday had her tenure extended by one year, said she is aware of the existence of the voice note message being circulated on social media

She described the contents as “false news” and that the TTPS is unaware of any such information “and denounces the attempt to cause undue anxiety and panic among the population, with the circulation of the false information”

A police statement quotes the top cop as reminding members of the public to verify all information they receive before circulating messages via social media

“Citizens are also urged to pay attention to and stay updated via the official TTPS Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages for matters concerning policing, safety, and security,” the statement added