[UPDATED] UNC MPs: Debate on acting top cop appointment a 'waste of time'

Naparima MP Rodney Charles says the process of appointing an acting Commissioner of Police (CoP) is a “waste of time” and has to change.

He spoke with the media outside the Red House on February 5 as the House of Representatives met to debate the appointment of DCP Junior Benjamin to the post of acting CoP and ACP Curt Simon to acting DCP.

Benjamin was selected by the Police Service Commission (PSC), based on its merit list, to replace Erla Harewood-Christopher.

Harewood-Christopher was arrested on January 30 as police investigate the purchase of two sniper rifles for the Strategic Services Agency (SSA).

She was freed on February 1, but the PSC subsequently suspended her from office and sent the name of her replacement to the President.

Harewood-Christopher, through her lawyer Pamela Elder, SC, has since challenged the PSC's decision.

Charles said it was unfair to ask politicians to debate this appointment based only the candidate’s curriculum vitae.

“We are given a CV and they say, ‘You see that CV, that is the basis for you to make that appointment.’

“I was a manager in NP 30 years ago and we were told in management courses that a CV is not acceptable for appointing an individual. Yet in TT, almost 40 years later, I am in Parliament and all I am given is a CV.”

Mayaro MP Rushton Paray shared similar sentiments while speaking with journalists outside the Parliament.

“Because of the standing orders, we are constrained to debate the CVs. So if you try to step out of line to find out any information as to why the course of events happened, you may be struck down because you are limited to (debating based solely on) the CVs.”

Paray said the government should have waited for the outcome of Harewood-Christopher’s legal challenge against the PSC before debating the appointments.

He said he found comments on the debate by leader of government business Camille Robinson-Regis to be “a very strange determination.”

Robinson-Regis told the Trinidad Guardian on February 3, "At this time, there is nothing to stop the House of Representatives from sitting. The notifications are before the House of Representatives and the sitting will take place."

Paray said, “You're going to ask us to start a debate and within 15 minutes we can get a judgement. Then what happens? Do you just stop in the middle of the debate?”

Harewood-Christopher was was given leave to challenge the PSC's authority to suspend her under the current circumstances but was not able to convince the court to stop the appointment of an acting CoP in the interim.

Charles said the system was clearly not working and called for a bipartisan approach to fixing it.

“We have appointed endless CoPs and DCPs and crime is increasing. So instead of trying to force-fit people into an obzocky system, change the bloody system!

“Sit with the opposition, and come up with a plan using best practice so we can get the best and the brightest to fight crime.

“Instead I’m wasting time to come here and force somebody into a system that everybody admits cannot work.”

Paray added the system had “gone past its usefulness” and said there were weaknesses in the system that needed to be revisited.

“If a CoP has to go on a two-day training programme next week, you have to come to Parliament to debate whether Mr John or Mr Jack could be sent into act for five days. That is a waste of parliamentary time and money.”

He said the process should also be overhauled in light of the modern challenges facing police in the fight against crime.

“The type of crime and criminality is different from ten, 15 years ago… We're getting more heavily dependent on technology. So your CoP ought to know how artificial intelligence works.”

“So we have to overhaul this entire thing because what we're doing is not working. And we in the Parliament have a duty to lead on that.”

Addressing Harewood-Christopher’s arrest and subsequent release, Paray suggested there were many questions still to be answered.

“How could you go after one of the highest office holders, in the middle of a state of emergency as well, and you come shooting from the hip. No, that is nonsense.

"When you come, come fully loaded. And when you make an arrest and a caution, then go to court the next morning. They didn't do that.”

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

NAPARIMA MP Rodney Charles says the process of appointing an acting Commissioner of Police (CoP) is a “waste of time” and has to change.

He spoke with the media outside the Red House on February 5 as the House of Representatives met to debate the appointment of DCP Junior Benjamin to the post of acting CoP and ACP Curt Simon to acting DCP.

Benjamin was selected by the Police Service Commission (PSC), based on its merit list, to replace Erla Harewood-Christopher.

Harewood-Christopher was arrested on January 30 as police investigate the purchase of two sniper rifles for the Strategic Services Agency (SSA).

She was freed on February 1, but the PSC subsequently suspended her from office and sent the name of her replacement to the President.

Harewood-Christopher, through her lawyer Pamela Elder, SC, has since challenged the PSC's decision.

Charles said it was unfair to ask politicians to debate this appointment based only the candidate’s curriculum vitae.

“We are given a CV and they say, ‘You see that CV, that is the basis for you to make that appointment.’

“I was a manager in NP 30 years ago and we were told in management courses that a CV is not acceptable for appointing an individual. Yet in TT, almost 40 years later, I am in Parliament and all I am given is a CV.”

He said the system is clearly not working and called for a bipartisan approach to fixing it.

“We have appointed endless CoPs and DCPs and crime is increasing. So instead of trying to force-fit people into an obzocky system, change the bloody system!

“Sit with the opposition, and come up with a plan using best practice so we can get the best and the brightest to fight crime.

“Instead I’m wasting time to come here and force somebody into a system that everybody admits cannot work.”