TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO OPERATES WITHOUT A POLICE COMMISSIONER

By A STAFF REPORTER: As it currently stands, Trinidad and Tobago does not have either a Commissioner or acting Commissioner of Police to manage the overall operations of the country’s police service. How long this will remain the case is now in the hands of President Paula-Mae Weekes and her ability to reconstitute a new Police Service Commission. Only when this is done can the process for recommending and appointing a new acting Commissioner take place by the commission, in accordance with Section 123 of the Constitution. The latest development has come amidst several weeks of controversy after the three-year contract of former police commissioner Griffith ended on August 17. Justice Nadia Kangaloo yesterday declared that the appointment of Griffith as acting commissioner by the previous Bliss Seepersad-led PolSC was illegal and unconstitutional, since it was not done in accordance with provisions set out in Section 123. Even though he was appointed to begin acting as Commissioner on August 18, Griffith was eventually suspended from duty by the commission on August 21, on the basis of an investigation led by retired Justice Stanley John into allegations of corruption within the TTPS in the granting of Firearm User’s Licences. In the days to follow and after questions surrounding the controversial appointment began, the three commission members as well as Seepersad tendered their resignations “with immediate effect” to the President. So far, President Weekes has nominated two candidates to be members of the new commission— retired Justice Judith Jones and management accountant Maxine Attong. While Deputy Police Commissioner McDonald Jacob had been acting as police commissioner during Griffith’s period of leave, his letter of appointment expired at midnight last night. In fact, Justice Kangaloo declared his acting appointment was also unconstitutional, on the same basis as that of Griffith’s.