Postmaster-General/CEO
The Post and Telecommunications Department and the Postal Corporation of Jamaica are pleased to announce the appointment of our Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Lincoln A. Allen, JP. Mr. Allen’s tenure commenced on Monday, March 1, 2021.
Mr. Lincoln Allen is the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA), Jamaica, the government agency with responsibility for the establishment and regulation of Jamaica’s legal medicinal cannabis industry. He has been employed to the Jamaican Public Service for over twenty (20) years, many of which have been at the senior and executive management levels. His tenure during this period spans several organizations to include the Ministry of National Security (MNS), Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA), Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) and up until February 28, 2021, the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA).
The knowledge and experience that Mr. Allen acquired as he navigated the different areas of the Public Service, provided a solid foundation that enhanced his ability to operate strategically and operationally at both the executive and senior management levels. These acquired skillsets positively impacted the timely buildout of the operations of the CLA over the last thirty-six (36) months.
Since assuming duties at the CLA in March 2018, Mr. Allen’s transformational leadership skills have, among other things, strengthened the organizational structure, which has enhanced the technical capacity and capability of the entity; thus, placing it on a platform to adequately meet the needs and expectations of the industry.
Under his leadership, the Authority realized improved organizational efficiencies and the development of several policies, procedures and protocols which helped to increase accountability and transparency in support of the organization’s thrust towards achieving ISO 9001:2015 certification.
Additionally, in response to the urgent need and passion being espoused for the inclusion of more small or subsistence farmers into the legal medicinal cannabis industry, Mr. Allen conceptualized the well anticipated Cultivators’ (transitional) Special Permit, with a mantra adopted by the Authority – “Transition is the Mission”. Drafting instructions for the promulgation of these regulations for this Special Permit are currently being prepared for the administration of the said Permit during the upcoming financial year.
These, among other achievements, have placed the CLA on a path to realizing one of its ambitions, to become a model agency, and eventually, a leader in the global medicinal cannabis space.
While at the Ministry of National Security, Mr. Allen who is also knowledgeable in the area of small arms control, was the government officer who had the responsibility for handling local and international policy matters pertaining to firearms, and routinely provided policy oversight for several Public Bodies within the remit of the Ministry of National Security which included the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) and Private Security Regulations Authority (PSRA). He was a member of Jamaica’s delegation that negotiated the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty signed and ratified by Jamaica in June 2013 and June 2014, respectively. Mr. Allen was also a member of Jamaica’s delegation that assisted CARICOM in developing draft (model) Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) legislation for consideration and adoption by its member states.
In 2016, he was seconded to the Firearm Licensing Authority as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) where he identified systemic weaknesses within the Authority. He documented his findings in a comprehensive report entitled “Firearm Licensing Authority – Identification of Systemic Weakness and Mitigating Strategies”, dubbed the “the Allen Report” and advanced recommendations to cauterize and ameliorate said weaknesses.
Mr. Allen holds a BSc in Biochemistry, and an MSc in National Security and Strategic Studies from the University of The West Indies (The UWI), as well as an MBA from Nova Southeastern University (Fl, USA). Mr. Allen is currently a Master of Philosophy student in the Department of Government at the University of the West Indies.