NEW YORK, USA — Jamaicans in Lauderhill, Florida, are seeking sanctions against the city’s Vice Mayor Lawrence “Jabbow” Martin over allegations of misconduct following an incident during a motorcade celebrating the island’s 62nd anniversary of Independence on August 4.
The powerful Jamaican Men of Florida, an organisation that seeks to empower Jamaican men in that state and beyond, alleged in a press statement that Martin “in a blatant display of disrespect, misuse of power and physical violence, disrupted a peaceful gathering of Jamaican Americans”.
The group accused Martin of what it described as an “aggressive and unprovoked attack on a 67-year-old senior citizen”, saying that it was “particularly reprehensible”.
The organisation added that the senior citizen, who has since been identified as Richard Campbell, “had to seek medical attention for discomfort and bruises” after he was shoved to the ground.
The Lauderhill Police Department confirmed the incident.
“This matter is currently under active investigation and so we are not able to comment further at this time.” a spokeswoman told the Jamaica Observer
However, in an e-mail response to the Observer, Martin denied the allegations.
“Please be advised that any allegations of me assaulting Mr Richard Campbell are 100 per cent false. Any action taken by me was in self-defence as I was simply trying to defend myself from his physical attacks as a result of his unprovoked behaviour towards me,” the vice mayor wrote in his response.
He said that he is also “pursuing criminal charges” against Campbell.
“Additionally, as a retired federal probation officer, I look forward to seeing this investigation completed where my name is cleared, justice prevails, and truth becomes evident,” Martin said.
When the Observer contacted Campbell he said he was “physically assaulted” by the vice mayor after refusing a request from him to have a discussion.
“A week before the August incident I was verbally abused by him,” he told the Observer. Campbell said that he reported the matter to Lauderhill city officials and has also provided a statement to the Lauderhill Police Department.
Additionally, he said he has “initiated legal action against Martin” as he had to seek medical attention as a result of the incident.
Meanwhile, Jamaican Men of Florida is urging the Lauderhill Commission Ethics Committee to “reprimand” Martin “for his conduct or call for his resignation or stepping down from office”.
“The people of Lauderhill, particularly those of Jamaican heritage, deserve better representation,” the organisation said in its release which also expressed concerns about how the matter was handled by the police.
“Instead of reprimanding Vice Mayor Martin they engaged in friendly discussions with him,” the group alleged.
Peter Gracey, who heads the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council for the Southern United States, has also weighed in on the controversy, saying that he wants the Lauderhill City Commission to “take immediate and decisive steps, including the issuing of a formal reprimand to Vice Mayor Martin”.
He is also insisting that Martin issue a public apology.
“Our community deserves leadership that embodies integrity, respect and responsibility — qualities that are the cornerstone of Jamaican American culture. The vice mayor’s actions represent a stark betrayal of these values and we cannot afford to remain silent,” said Gracey.
Jamaicans make up a large part of the population of Lauderhill and account for the largest percentage of the black population in the city.
CAMPBELL… says he has initiated legal action against Martin
GRACEY… our community deserves leadership that embodies integrity, respect and responsibility
