Never miss a thing from Belfast and beyond - sign up for FREE updates direct to your email inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Top cop Amanda Stewart has dramatically quit her job in the Caribbean after just six weeks for upsetting the locals by calling their sunkissed island a “village".

The former detective superintendent only took up the five year job as Chief of Police on Anguilla on July 10 after retiring from the PSNI with 30 years service under her belt.

But it was an interview in Sunday Life earlier this month which didn’t go down well with the people of Anguilla who were said to have been “most upset’’ by her comments.

Mrs Stewart – who was a commander in North and West Belfast in recent years during the Ardoyne riots – later took to Facebook to unreservedly apologise for her remarks claiming she had been “misrepresented’’ in the article.

However, according to security sources, the apology didn’t resolve her problems with local residents. Mrs Stewart later went on sick leave citing “stress’’ before eventually quitting this week.

Her dream retirement job in the sun with her ex-cop husband Donald had turned into a nightmare.

Mrs Stewart resigned on Monday, August 17, in a letter to the island’s governor Christina Scott.

She wrote: “As soon as I saw the article I issued an honest and sincere apology for any offence caused, but the personal criticism has continued.

“This has now affected my health and I have been left with no alternative than to resign and leave Anguilla.

“I am sorry that I have let people down who supported me and put faith in me to do this job."

Some of her remarks which upset locals include:

· “The island feels stuck in the 1960s, even the way the people act, and their culture is very respectful. They are lovely, friendly people, you have to say “good morning and good afternoon” to everyone or they think you’re cheeky.”

· “It’s a village trying to be a country.”

· “The island is sort of split in two, there’s the big five star resorts which the Americans mainly come to as it’s deadly expensive to come here from the UK’’.

· “The ordinary people of Anguilla don’t have that much to be truthful, it’s a real typical Caribbean island.”

But the final nail in her coffin was her remarks about British rule on the island.

She said: “Ironically, opposition to British rule is practically non-existent compared to the nationalism and violent republicanism in Northern Ireland.

“I didn’t know what it was going to be like, I knew there had been a bit of an uprising in the 1960s but that was actually to get British rule back. The truth is the people here think the island couldn’t survive without Britain.

MORE:

“The Governor Christina Scott basically rules the place, they have their own internal government but I think British rule is accepted and it’s the way it needs to run.

“The respect people have shown me is wonderful, they say it’s great to see someone bringing the UK ideas here, so I’ve been well accepted.”

A security source said: “Amanda had not understood the people, the culture or their mindset. Her remarks in the Sunday Life show that she was not well briefed before going out.

“That is down to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who helped appoint her as the first white and the first female commissioner of police.

“In the Caribbean, the one thing they don’t like being reminded about is that they need Britain or want British rule."

A few days after the interview, Mrs Stewart issued a press release on the Facebook page of the Anguilla Police Force to publicly apologise for her remarks.

She said: “I would like to apologize to the people of Anguilla for any offence caused by the article published by the Sunday Life.

“The sentiment expressed in the article is not a true representation of the interview and is a mischaracterization of what I believe.

“From my first day on this beautiful island, my goal has been to bring my professional policing skills to help make this a safer place for all to live in. If I have offended anyone without meaning to, I apologise.

“I feel that I have been completely misrepresented in the views expressed in the article as published. The journalist I spoke to has created a political slant to the interview which at no point in time did I intend, by changing completely the context of what I was actually saying.

“Throughout the interview I was extremely positive about the people of Anguilla and the job I am proud to have come here to do. I was not a political person in Northern Ireland and I certainly do not wish to be so here.

“I would like to reassure all the people of Anguilla that I have dedicated my entire life to law enforcement, and the values of honesty, integrity and service. I would never in any way criticize this beautiful island or its friendly people.

“I am committed to doing all I can to prove to everyone who calls Anguilla home, my respect for you, your history and proud traditions. I am here to use my experience and years of service to serve and protect Anguilla, making this island a safer place for all of us to live in.’’

Statchel Warner replied to the Facebook post saying: “Your apology is likely to be accepted in most quarters of the island, but let no one be fooled - you are now on probation.’’

Clyde Hodge posted: “That's fine you are not good for Anguilla so I think it would be a great for you to start packing up and go back to the country why would you want to stay in a village???’’

However, with mounting criticism of her remarks, Mrs Stewart fell on the sword on Monday.

An invitation was circulated by the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association to its members to attend a meeting on Wednesday, August 19 at which Commissioner Stewart was expected to address them on her plans to deal with crime and law and order on the island.

But that meeting was cancelled when it was announced by the Governor’s Office that Commissioner Stewart had resigned with immediate effect and that Governor Christina Scott had accepted her resignation.

It is understood Mrs Stewart and her husband Donald have now left the island and are heading back to Northern Ireland.

Sergeant Chrispen A Gumbs, who acts as public and media relations officer for Anguilla Police Force, was yesterday unable to comment on Mrs Stewart’s departure as Chief of Police.

He said by email: “Unfortunately, I am presently on vacation and I will seek to respond to your query as soon as I possibly can."