Dub poet, actor and playwright, Malachi Smith, is the new president of the Jamaica Ex-Police Association of South Florida. Members of the 20 years old organization elected Smith, by an overwhelming majority to the office on Sunday, May 1, 2011. His challenger was Mr. Roy Bennett, the immediate past vice president of the association.

Malachi served as president of the association from 2003 to 2005. During that tenure, the Ex-Police Association of South Florida experienced exponential growth in all sectors. His vice president is Mrs. Avis Jarrett-Miller, a former president with strong work ethics.

Rounding out the slate of winners is: Secretary: Cynthia McQueenie; Assistant Secretary: Launa Robinson Treasurer: Franklyn Coombs; Assistant Treasurer: Samuel Bryan.

Mr. Dervin Johnson, a manager with Budweiser/Double Eagle Distributing, is chairman of the Board of Directors; Vice chairman is Mr. Edgton Wright, the immediate past president. The other board members are: Alphonso Dunn; John Hodgson; Lawrence Palmer; Radcliff Guy and Franklin Ruddock.

Prior to the elections, Mr. Edgton Wright, the outgoing president, thanked the members of the association for their loyal support despite the numerous challenges that the association faced. He also presented awards to several members for outstanding and long service to the association. For the second year in a row, Mr. Alphonso Dunn received the hardest worker award.

For eight consecutive years, members of the Jamaica Ex-Police Association of South Florida will visit Jamaica from May 26 through June 4, for annual charity projects.

Our first project will be our “Adopt a Basic School Day”, on Monday, May 30 at Fair Prospect Basic School in Portland. The basic school has a student population of 57 children in three grade levels with ages ranging from three to six years old.

The days proceeding will commencing with the reciting of Jamaica’s National Pledge by faculty, students and participating persons. Several activities are planned for the remainder of the day.

The following day, May 31, 2011, members of the association will renovate the Castle Police Station, also in Portland, and present the annual Jamaican scholarship.

Malachi, the dub poet, is also scheduled to read at the Talking Trees Literary Festival at Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth, Saturday, May 28, 2011.