Deosaran calls selection of CoP ‘worst system in the world’
Former Police Service Commission (PolSC) chairman, Prof Ramesh Deosaran, says Parliament should return to the 2006 model allowing it to appoint a Commissioner of Police (CoP), while the prime minister retains veto power.
Speaking on the issue yesterday, Deosaran agreed with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley that the current system did not lend itself to creating best practices. Deosaran described it as the “worst system in the world, noting it was convoluted, expensive, caused confusion and was a lengthy process which could be delayed.”
He said even Rowley agreed the system was a mistake. Therefore, he called for bravery in Parliament to give Rowley the authority he deserved as Prime Minister, with the President controlling the formation of the PolSC.
“Right now, the Government and the Prime Minister are being held accountable for what the commissioner is doing, and they are not the ones who exclusively appointed her,” Deosaran said.
Deosaran said T&T has the same issue as in 2006 but with more expense and rigmarole. He said the purpose of establishing the PolSC was to remove the prime minister’s veto power in the appointments of CoPs and deputy commissioners. He said Government and the Opposition undertook this policy decision.
He proposed that the PolSC should do the interviews and assessments, make the appointment, and let the prime minister have the final say.
“I think the Government and the Opposition should be brave enough to admit, PNM and UNC, that they made a mistake in using a big hammer to kill a sandfly as it appears now,” he said.
Deosaran also agreed with then-acting prime minister Colm Imbert, who said if Cabinet had not returned Erla Harewood-Christopher as CoP, the Government would have had to wait until the end of the year to get a substantive appointment.
Meanwhile, former PolSC commissioner Martin George believes the appointment process is too cumbersome and complex, saying it was easier to appoint a chief justice, attorney general, and prime minister than a CoP. George said there were too many steps, including some out of the PolSC’s control, so there is a need for urgent and radical reform of the procedure and legislation.
George said during his time at the PolSC, it did an extensive analysis of its roles and functions and made several recommendations, including the appointment of a permanent, full-time PolSC to carry out assessments and investigations. He said this document is with the PolSC and suggested the Cabinet use it to guide the way forward.
During last Thursday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, Imbert said the PolSC assessed Harewood-Christopher’s performance and rated her “good”.
But George said it was not enough for Government to tell the public that, and called on the PolSC to publish the assessment.
“It is really a slap in the face of the public if the PolSC continues to be silent on this issue, and I call them out today. I call them out right this minute to account to the public and produce those results. Produce the analysis. Produce the statements whereby you would have done your assessment of the commissioner,” George said.
He said the PolSC wouid lose credibility if it failed to deliver, as it should not act in secrecy and whisper to government ministers. If it continues like this, he said the commissioners should resign.
BY: KEVON FELMINE
Deosaran calls selection of CoP ‘worst system in the world’