Judge lifts injunction on police promotions

UPDATE:

A HIGH Court judge has discharged an injunction which was hindering promotions in the Police Service.
Justice Joan Charles yesterday dismissed the injunction against acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams because it was unduly restrictive.
The injunction was granted in August 2017, and extended in September, of that year, in a judicial review claim brought by 12 acting sergeants, effectively stopping promotions within the Second Division.

Seeking to have the injunction lifted was Cpl Nina Rawlins who passed the promotion examination to the higher rank in 2008 and was successful at the promotion interviews in January 2015.
She had initially been bypassed for promotion because of a pending disciplinary matter.
Rawlins, who is now stationed at the Couva Police Station, said she was never told about disciplinary proceedings against her.

She took legal action against the commissioner, and in February, acting ASP Clint Arthur, of the police Human Resource Branch, said there was no longer an impediment to her promotion and a vacant office of sergeant was retained for her since April 2016.
In her lawsuit, Rawlins said she has been deprived of the opportunity to advance her career as she could not take part in the promotion exercise for the post of inspector since it was only available to those who held the rank of sergeant.

“This has had a domino effect on my eligibility for future acting appointments.
“Had I been promoted to the post of sergeant I would have been eligible to sit the promotion examinations for elevation to the rank of Inspector of Police.
Two weeks ago, acting commissioner Williams said the injunction was blocking promotions. He was before another judge on a contempt charge for failing to promote a police officer.
Nina’s attorney Anand Ramlogan, SC, yesterday argued that promotion issue was untenable and affecting the morale of police.

He argued that injunction was fundamentally flawed, and too wide. Ramlogan also submitted that it was unfair to the commissioner and the officers whose career advancement was being stagnated because of the injunction.
Deputy Solicitor General Neil Byam, who appeared for the State, said he agreed with Ramlogan’s submissions, and was grateful because he was arguing the case for the commissioner.

In her ruling, Charles said she was minded to discharge the injunction to preserve the good administration of the TTPS.
Also appearing with Ramlogan for Rawlins were Alana Rambaran and Ganesh Saroop while Kiel Tacklalsingh and Setefan Ramkissoon appeared for the group of police officers who were granted the injunction.

The State was also ordered to pay Rawlin’s costs.

ORIGINAL STORY:

A HIGH Court judge has discharged an injunction which was hindering promotions in the Police Service.

Justice Joan Charles on Friday dismissed the injunction against acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams because it was unduly restrictive.

The injunction was granted in August 2017, and extended in September, of that year, in a judicial review claim brought by 12 acting sergeants, effectively stopping promotions within the Second Division.

Seeking to have the injunction lifted was Cpl Nina Rawlins who passed the promotion examination to the higher rank in 2008 and was successful at the promotion interviews in January 2015.

Rawlins was represented by Anand Ramlogan,SC, Alana Rambaran and Ganesh Saroop while Kiel Tacklalsingh and Setefan Ramkissoon appeared for the group of acting sergeants who were granted the injunction.

The State was also ordered to pay Rawlins' costs.

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