Crisis looms as PSC debacle unresolved

in Newspaper Articles, Police Service Commission

TIME is running out for President Paula-Mae Weekes to find at least three new members to serve on the Police Service Commission (PSC) which imploded in the past fortnight with four resignations. This has been topped by the withdrawal of new nominee retired DCP Vincel Edwards on Friday to allow Weekes "the widest consideration in reconstituting the five-member commission." The Constitution says members must be qualified and experienced in law, finance, sociology or management. The President will consult the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader over nominees who then face affirmative resolution in the House of Representatives. The situation is reminiscent of the collapse of...

01 October

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New PSC members to be found as Bliss Seepersad resigns

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in Newspaper Articles, Police Service Commission

AFTER days of speculation, Bliss Seepersad on Thursday resigned as chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) which is now vacant owing to the earlier resignation of three members. This comes after the bungled appointment and suspension of Gary Griffith as acting Commissioner of Police (CoP) pending a probe into the award of firearm user's licences (FULs) by retired judge Stanley John. PSC ex-members Courtney McNish, Dr Susan Craig-James and Roger Kawalsingh were reportedly upset at Seepersad's alleged lack of consultation before suspending Griffith. The filling of the PSC with fresh nominees now takes on a certain urgency as current acting CoP Mc...

01 October

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Vincel Edwards withdraws as sole nominee to Police Service Commission

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in Newspaper Articles, Police Service Commission

RETIRED DCP Vincel Edwards has withdrawn as a nominee to the troubled Police Service Commission (PSC). A notice from President's House announced this on Friday, the day after the body was left vacant by the resignation of chairman Bliss Seepersad. Days before, three other members resigned in succession, alleging Seepersad had not consulted them when suspending Gary Griffith as acting Commissioner of Police (CoP) while Justice Stanley John investigated the issuance of firearms user's licences (FULs.) Edwards' name appearedon Thursday on the order paper of the House of Representatives for next Monday in a notification in the name of Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George, and...

01 October

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Martin George – Vincel Edwards has done the right thing by withdrawing

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in Police Service Commission, Television Interviews

Vincel Edwards has done the right thing by withdrawing his name from consideration as a Member of the Police Service Commission. Yesterday I called for his name to be withdrawn. A career Police Officer who has served for decades in the Police Service should never be a candidate for the Police Service Commission because of the potential Conflicts of Interest which can compromise the Commission. https://youtu.be/Mu0yWJAc8_4 ...

01 October

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Search for new PSC as Bliss quits

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in Newspaper Articles, Police Service Commission

After days of serving as the lone member and chairman of the Police Service Commission, Bliss Seepersad resigned yesterday. Her resignation came following weeks of controversy surrounding the operations of the commission, which collapsed in less than a week. Seepersad had been the lone serving PSC member after three other commissioners resigned over issues concerning the selection of a Police Commissioner. There had been overwhelming calls for her to step down. Courtney McNish resigned last Tuesday and Dr Susan Craig-James last Saturday, leaving the PSC without a quorum. Roger Kawalsingh resigned on Monday. Yesterday, a short statement from President’s House confirmed President Paula-Mae Weekes...

30 September

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