Occupy CoP’s house

UPDATE:

FORMER minister of National Security Jack Warner as well as secretary of the Police Social and Welfare Association ASP Anand Ramesar yesterday called on Commissioner of Police-designate Gary Griffith to occupy the commissioner’s official residence, at the entrance of the Police Training College in St James.

The house, which was refurbished in 2010 at a cost of $1.7 million for then Police Commissioner Canadian Dwayne Gibbs, remains unoccupied.
Gibbs, who was given a tour of the house along with his wife Dawn in October 2010, had agreed to live there afterwards.
Sources said government, through the Ministry of Finance, released funds for the refurbishment,and Gibbs and his family were expected to occupy the house that December. No reason was given by the then government why Gibbs opted not to move in.

The house is estimated to be about 108 years old, and from time to time was spruced up by workmen from the police artisan department. In 2010 it was discovered the roof had some leaks, while some of the wooden rafters were rotten, and pigeons had taken over part of the building.
Former acting commissioner James Philbert lived in the house for two years.
Sources said the refurbishment included several new fittings as well as work on the roof, kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms.

Yesterday former Minister of National Security Jack Warner said he is hoping the new commissioner sees it fit to occupy the house and not accept a housing allowance as part of the perks.
"A lot of derelict vehicles which do not beautify the surroundings at all are on the grounds. Derelict vehicles are parked on the hockey field. It was a beautifully kept field near to the house, which is now a dump.”
He said if he were minister of national security he would have investigated why the house has been unoccupied.
The outgoing commissioner gets a housing allowance of $7,740 a month.
Yesterday, secretary of the Police Social and Welfare Association ASP Anand Ramesar agreed with Warner.
"A lot of people prefer the housing allowance over the accommodation, mainly because the accommodation is often disrupted: there is a lack of repairs, and other maintenance services. So the house being unoccupied was never questioned.

"The commissioner’s residence is a landmark feature of the Training Academy and there is a rich history which goes with it, and in that context there is every need to ensure that it is properly maintained and, at the very least, it should be occupied by the office-holder.”
Griffith, who is expected to take office in early September, lives in Moka, Maraval.
Yesterday he said he preferred not to comment on the issue.

On the salary for the new CoP Warner said he was hoping an attractive package is made available to Griffith because much is expected of him.
He pointed out that he was instrumental in causing the contracts of former commissioner Dwayne Gibbs and deputy commissioner Jack Ewatski to be broken because he was concerned about the difference between their salaries and those of local officers.

“I was instrumental in getting Dwayne Gibbs and Ewatski to go back to Canada, because I found the discrepancy in salary was ludicrous, mind-boggling, and I did not think they had the capacity to solve crime for that type of salary as well as the local police.
"In hindsight, I may have been wrong, because the local police officers did not live up to the expectations I had.”

Sources said yesterday that Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon will be responsible for the contract of the new CoP and will determine for how many years Griffith will be contracted, his salary and perks. Dillon will be guided by experts in his ministry.
Griffith has the option to accept, reject or renegotiate his remuneration package as he sees fit.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Former minister of national security Jack Warner as well as Secretary of the Police Social and Welfare Association ASP Anand Ramesar yesterday called on new Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith to occupy the Commissioner’s official residence which is located at the entrance of the Police Training College in St James.

The house, which was refurbished late October 2010 at a cost of $1.7 million for then Police Commissioner Canadian Dwayne Gibbs, remained unoccupied up until yesterday.

In 2010 it was discovered part of the roof had some leaks, while some of the wooden rafters were rotted, and pigeons have taken over part of the building.

Gibbs who was given a tour of the house along with his wife Dawn in October of 2010 had agreed to live at the official residence after the refurbishment.

The Newsday understands that government through the Ministry of Finance released funds for the refurbishment and Gibbs along with his family was expected to occupy the house in December of 2010.

No reason was given by the then government as to why Gibbs and his wife opted not to move into the house.