House to debate CoP notification on Monday

THE House of Representatives sits in special session next Monday to debate a notification from President Paula-Mae Weekes to approve the nomination of acting Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Harold Phillip as Commissioner of Police (CoP). Leader of Government Business Camille Robinson-Regis said so yesterday. She explained that while Government and the Opposition are concerned the selection process used by the Police Service Commission (PSC) was flawed, senior counsel has advised that the merit list is valid.

Due to the prevailing circumstances and in light of the extraordinary situation in which the country has been without a CoP for several years, Robinson-Regis said, “It is imperative that this matter be ventilated in accordance with the constitutional procedure.” Robinson-Regis also said the House will deal with concerns raised by PSC chairman Bliss Seepersad, in two letters which were received by the Clerk of the House, after the House adjourned on Tuesday.

Both letters were addressed to Weekes. In the first letter dated July 1, Seepersad noted the report of the Special Select Committee (SSC) and the attached minority report from the SSC’s Opposition members were, “all highly critical of aspects of the process.” However she said the existing merit list is still valid. As such, Phillip, who was ranked second after Acting DCP Deodat Dulalchan for CoP, has been submitted by the PSC as, “the next highest candidate.

On concerns raised in both reports, Seepersad said the PSC is compelled to advance Phillip as the next best candidate for several reasons. One of these reasons, Seepersad said is the PSC, “simply do not have the money, time and other resources to conduct a completely new process.” The unprecedented period of six and half years TT has appointed a CoP, the country’s rising crime rate, the untenable situation where all the top positions in the Police Service are held by acting office holders, two of the four people in the most senior position have at one time or another have been rejected by the House as suitable candidates and acting in TT’s best interest, were other reasons cited for advancing Phillip’s nomination.

Given the small number of individuals that remained in consideration and with job competencies laid out in the job requirements being identical, Seepersad said the PSC decided, “include the candidates who applied for the DCP as opposed to the CoP alone.” One candidate had disciplinary convictions against him, two candidates were over 60 years old and two candidates lacked the necessary experience for the position of CoP.

The remaining candidates on the merit list were ranked by each of the four PSC members according to their preference for the best candidate for CoP. Four candidates were ranked by the PSC using the last merit list used by its predecessors. Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said next week’s sitting vindicates the Opposition’s position that Government was wrong not to lay Phillip’s notification in Parliament.

“The Government has now backed down on that position following the Opposition’s strong public objections that such a course of action by the Government is fundamentally wrong and in breach of the Constitution.” Persad-Bissessar declared, “It is not for the Government to unilaterally decide that they will not proceed with respect to parliamentary debate on the President’s notification. The law must be followed.” Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal accused Robinson-Regis of bringing Weekes into disrepute and misdirecting House Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George.

“Mrs Robinson-Regis must resign as Leader of Government Business forthwith.” Chaguanas West MP Ganga Singh said, “Rule of law must prevail. The alternative is anarchy.” Pointe-a-Pierre MP David Lee claimed the Government, “broke every rule of proper parliament procedure.” With the House being recalled from its scheduled recess to debate the notification, Lee said the Government, “have egg on their face.”