KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court has imposed a substantial financial penalty on Roogae Kirlew, a former People’s National Party councillor and current principal of Spanish Town Primary School, for violations related to statutory declaration filings. Presiding Judge Alwayne Smith ordered Kirlew to pay $200,000 in fines on Tuesday after the educator pleaded guilty to failing to submit mandatory integrity disclosures for multiple years.
The case centered on Kirlew’s failure to file required statutory declarations with Jamaica’s Integrity Commission for the reporting periods covering 2019, 2020, and 2022. Defense attorney Atiba Dyer presented mitigating circumstances, explaining that his client had experienced illness during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, which initially prevented timely compliance. Dyer further cited administrative confusion regarding submission procedures during the relevant period.
Legal representatives emphasized that all outstanding declarations were eventually submitted in 2022, demonstrating eventual compliance. The defense petitioned for judicial leniency, highlighting Kirlew’s contributions to society as a justice of the peace, religious minister, and educational leader who continues to support his two children, including one pursuing overseas education.
The court learned that Kirlew proactively engaged with the Integrity Commission upon learning of the allegations against him, despite being overseas at the time. He returned to Jamaica in October 2025 specifically to address the compliance issues and coordinated with legal counsel to ensure proper handling of the matter.
In its final ruling, the court imposed differentiated penalties: $80,000 for the 2019 declaration failure, $120,000 for the 2020 violation, and an admonishment and discharge for the 2022 oversight. The judgment underscores Jamaica’s ongoing enforcement of accountability standards for public officials and educators.