Access Financial Services was holding its annual general meeting behind closed doors and under tight security at the Courtleigh Hotel in Kingston this afternoon, with at least four armed guards on site.

The King Alarm guards were decked out in all-black with bullet proof vests, with one guard at the outside entry to the meeting room, one at the inside entry and at least two others securing the area.
John Azar, chief executive officer of the King Alarm, was also on location.

A representative for the Courtleigh told The Gleaner that the hotel had not hired the security company.
Only registered shareholders or proxy holders, totalling about 40 persons, were allowed access to the meeting held at The Courtleigh Hotel in Kingston.

The meeting is considering whether to increase the board from six to seven members, and is voting on a new slate of directors.

Marcus James, the embattled chief executive officer, wants to bring three new directors onto the board. They are business expert Sandra Glasgow; Douglas Lindo, managing director of Bellindo Limited; and Camille Shields, attorney-at-law.

Jame’s nominees are aiming for the seats held by Brian Goldson, Chris Berry and Peter McConnell, who are themselves seeking re-election.

The meeting started at 3 p.m. and up to 4:45 p.m. participants were still waiting the results of the first official vote on whether the number of directors should be increased.

It was a special resolution that required 75 per cent of the votes to pass, Gary Peart, company secretary, told journalists outside the meeting room. After that the meeting would turn to voting on each director on an individual basis.

The atmosphere in the room was “very cordial”, said Peart, but tense according to Orrette Staple, a shareholder who frequently attends AGMs to make his views known.

After about 10 minutes inside the meeting, Staple emerged saying that he was leaving. “I don’t feel free inside there today,” he said. “I’m just not into the politics thing.”

richard.browne@gleanerjm.com