I did not buy out anyone’s leave

SHANE SUPERVILLE and NALINEE SEELAL

POLICE Commissioner Gary Griffith yesterday denied claims that he attempted to buy out the pre-retirement leave of acting Snr Supt Garth Nelson, saying Nelson had expressed his intention to stay on past his expected retirement date.

Nelson who was expected to go on pre-retirement leave today and retire on April 20, will remain as the divisional commander for the western division.

Griffith while speaking to Newsday, responded to a picture of a letter addressed to Nelson, in which he approves his request to stay on the job until January 2020.

“It’s not often you hear of someone wanting to stay on in an organisation past their retirement. This is not buying out of leave. The letter that has been circulating has been rescinded.”

Referring to the controversial buyout of former Assistant Commissioner of Police Wayne Dick in 2014, Griffith said this was a different arrangement, as Nelson expressed his willingness to stay.

“Buying out someone’s pre-retirement leave means that officer will effectively be collecting two salaries at the end of the month. What I did was allow him (Nelson) to stay on with one salary.”

Griffith said he was pleased with Nelson’s performance as head of the Western Division and considered this before making his decision to keep him on the job.

He also said while this was only one case, he would not object to other police officers who would be willing to stay on the job beyond their pre-retirement date.

Asked if he needed to seek the permission of the Police Service Commission for such a decision, Griffith said he was exercising his privileges under Section 123 (A) of the Police Regulations.

The confidential letter was screen shot and shared with other police officers by an unknown person. Griffith described this action as childish, saying: “individuals who screen shot confidential documents should not be in the police service. When such irresponsible behaviour takes place it can cause law abiding citizens to be wary in that confidential information they bring to the police service could also be leaked in such a manner, that is why I take these matters seriously."

Secretary of the Police Social and Welfare Association ASP Anand Ramesar was not happy about the issue, telling Newsday: “this is a situation where the Commissioner should have consulted the Association. The position of the general membership of the Police Service has consistently been that when an officer reaches his retirement he must go.

"Previously this matter was discussed extensively which resulted in a judicial review matter when there was talk about the buyout of the vacation leave of ex CoP Wayne Dick. In fact that matter was concluded and costs were awarded to the Association which is still being assessed."

Association president Michael Seales was a bit more cautious in his statement on the matter. "The Association’s position is it is left now for First Division Officers to get the thoughts of the general membership of the First Division and then how to proceed, seeing that the decision has already been made is a question of resolving that issue via the court and it can only be done by a Constitutional motion or a judicial review of the Commissioner’s decision.

"The Vice President of the Association with his rank Acting Senior Sup Richard Corbett would have taken leave and communicated with the Commissioner on the issue and has asked for a meeting with the CoP with the First Division representative to express the view of the First Division on the matter, so the Association will be guided as a result of that meeting of the Commissioner so that it could better advise the members and take whatever action they are mandated to do.”

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