L.A. Lewis unfazed after posting bail
Self-appointed Paramount Chief of the Nyon-Ko-Pong Maroons, Horace ‘L.A.’ Lewis, was a pleased man yesterday as he was granted bail in his own surety when he appeared in the St Catherine Parish Court.
“The judge deal with the matter all right man, as even the court date that she give mi (September 7) shows respect, as seven is my number,” Lewis said after signing his bail bond. Lewis appeared in court on a bench warrant, a day after he was held by police in the Spanish Town Centre. He was subsequently escorted to the Spanish Town Police Station where the warrant was executed on him. Yesterday, with supporters shouting “seven, seven”, Lewis, decked out in his customary white suit, said he was glad to be out of jail.
“I believe that I am being targeted by the system as I am standing up for the Maroon culture. I want to see Jamaicans get the Maroon identification card as this will let them live tax free, as we are a sovereign set of people,” Lewis said. When he appeared before Parish Court Judge Monique Harrison, he explained that he was unable to attend court and wasn’t hiding, but was very surprised to be locked up again. Harrison subsequently granted Lewis bail in the sum of $30,000, on condition that he reappears on September 7.
The judge then ordered that a summons be reissued for Lewis’ two co-accused, Ras Wadewade Selassi I and Ras Nature Forever, to appear and answer to the charges on that date.
Lewis was arrested and charged by the police last October for protesting against the wearing of mask. He had failed to honour his court appearance on two occasions and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest for insulting the court.