Trevor MacMillan's chequered career has taken yet another twist. Yesterday, MacMillan announced his resignation from the position but not before leaving a parting shot, saying he had performed his duties without interfering with the operational matters of the Jamaica Constabulary Force. MacMillan discloses more.

AFTER NEARLY 10 months on the job as minister of national security, Colonel Trevor MacMillan says he did his best and there was no bitterness towards Prime Minister Bruce Golding who relieved him of his duties yesterday.

Minutes after Jamaica House issued a release confirming reports that former Cabinet ministers MacMillan, Derrick Smith and Clive Mullings had resigned, the former national security minister told The Gleaner that he was asked by the prime minister to step down.

"He asked me to resign so that he could reduce the Cabinet. I said to the prime minister, whatever you ask me to do, I will do," MacMillan said yesterday.

The police reported last week that the country's frightening murder figures had declined by six per cent.

The Bruce Golding administration has been struggling to reduce violent crime, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 300 Jamaicans since the start of the year.

During his short tenure, MacMillan said the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Jamaica Defence Force had received significant additional resources.

Operational decisions

The former minister said he carried out his responsibilities in relation to policy and the monitoring of "the performance of various groups".

However, MacMillan said that during his tenure he stayed clear of operational decisions, as this task was confined to the commissioner of police.

"I was not going to do something that in 1994 I disagreed with. I did not politically interfere with the police operation," he said.

In 1993, MacMillan was appointed commissioner of police and had received wide public support before he tendered his resignation in 1996.

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com