Revamp CoP process

ALMOST two weeks after the Parliament selected Gary Griffith as TT’s new Police Commissioner, former chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) Nizam Mohammed says the process to select top cops must be revamped “as a matter of urgency.”

“It has been creating too many problems for far too long and the earlier that is done, I think it will be better for the system,” he said in a Sunday Newsday interview. Mohammed admitted he has not thought about a possible alternative to the existing selection process but said there should be national dialogue.

“I am sure we can come up with more ideas that would be far better that what obtains at present.” However, he insisted Government should have some say in whomever was selected police commissioner.

“If you have an efficient Police Service Commission–one that is properly structured– it should be able to make recommendations for the consideration of the Government. But, I do not believe the Government should be deprived of having a say in who the police commissioner should be, bearing in mind it is a matter of security at the highest national level.”

He added: “Traditionally, the prime minister has had a say and at present, it is the Government that actually has the final say. But I believe that if it is the PSC is making a recommendation, a Government will need to have very good grounds for turning down its recommendations.”

A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mohammed also chastised the Opposition for its decision to abstain from the vote for Griffith as Police Commissioner.

Claiming the country was on the brink of "civil war", Mohammed said: “I do not know why we as a country do not understand that we are in a state of war in the same way that the criminals have declared war against the defenceless population and are not responding in a way we ought to respond.”

He added: “It was a disaster for our country when that debate came up in Parliament and the Opposition totally mishandled the situation. Their approach was unpardonable. Politicians must understand they have a right to operate in the Parliament in defence of the nation.”

Commenting on the view, in some circles, that Stuart Young’s appointment as National Security Minister may have been strategic to address white-collar crime, Mohammed said: “I do not share that view. Cannot imagine that the present Government will want at this stage to give priority to white-collar crime when people are dying on the streets like flies because of the crime situation in the country.”

The former PSC chairman added: “I am not saying that white-collar crime should not be addressed but there has to be some kind of renewed effort to look after the crime situation in a general way. I don’t see why there should be any particular emphasis on white-collar crime.”

However, Mohammed predicted Young would be a more dynamic leader than former national security minister Edmund Dillon.ually get a handle on crime.