Rita Humphries-Lewin committee retracts claim against Cornerstone

The Committee of Management for Rita Humphries-Lewin, appointed under a July 2023 court order, has formally withdrawn all allegations and accusations of misconduct against the Cornerstone Companies and their officers Paul Simpson and Jason Chambers.

In an advertisement published in two local newspapers on Sunday, titled "Committee of Management of Rita Humphries-Lewin expresses regret and withdraws allegations of wrongdoing against Cornerstone," the committee announced that an agreement has been reached to discontinue the counterclaim (Claim No. SU 2023 CD 00256) against Barita Investments Limited, Cornerstone Companies, and their subsidiaries, including key officers Paul Simpson and Jason Chambers.

See the full statement below:

The Committee of Management of Rita Humphries-Lewin appointed by court order made on July 11, 2023, in Claim No. SU2023 FD 02220, have received and considered further information and documentation now provided to us concerning certain transactions involving the sale of Mrs. Humphries-Lewin's shares in Barita Investments Limited and the related purchase of shares in Cornerstone United Holdings Jamaica Limited and Cornerstone Financial Holdings Limited ("the Cornerstone Companies").

In light of the further information and documentation and having consulted with and taken legal advice from attorneys-at-law and in the interest of justice, the committee withdraws all allegations, imputations of misconduct and wrongdoing against the Cornerstone Companies and their officers Mr Paul Simpson and Jason Chambers.

We appreciate that certain complaints would have called into question their professional characters, integrity and judgment and may have included inflammatory statements about them, and that it may have raised concerns on the part of the relevant regulators.

We have agreed to discontinue the Counterclaim filed in Claim No. SU 2023 CD 00256 against Barita Investments Limited, the Cornerstone Companies and their subsidiaries and especially their officers, Mr Paul Simpson and Mr Jason Chambers.

In light of the further information and documentation and having consulted with and taken advice from attorneys-at-Law, and in the interest of justice, the Committee withdraws all allegations and imputations of misconduct and wrongdoing against the Cornerstone Companies and their officers, Mr Paul Simpson and Mr Jason Chambers.

We sincerely regret any harm that may have been caused to the Cornerstone Companies, Barita, their subsidiaries and their officers, especially Messrs Simpson and Chambers, the chairman of the companies and their families.