Prakash: Gary can be Commissioner of Police

UPDATE:

FORMER justice minister Prakash Ramadhar yesterday said his former Cabinet colleague Gary Griffith has “a lot of attributes” that could make him an effective Commissioner of Police (CoP). Ramadhar and Griffith served in the cabinet of former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Ramadhar said Griffith is passionate and has an intelligent approach to how he deals with challenges.

The Police Service Commission (PSC), Ramadhar continued, would have looked at the qualifications of Griffith and all other nominees during the interview process. Ramadhar indicated the longstanding practice which the PSC continues to use, is to select someone either from within the ranks of the Police Service or someone outside of the service who has “a police background.”

However given the “viciousness” of crime taking place in TT today, Ramadhar said he would not be averse to someone who is neither a police officer nor someone with a police background, being chosen as CoP. Noting the House of Representatives sits on Monday from 1.30 pm to debate Griffith’s nomination to be appointed CoP, Ramadhar said the law is clear about how a CoP is selected.

With the Government holding the majority in the House, Ramadhar said it remains to be seen whether Griffith’s nomination finds favour with the majority. While not openly supporting Griffith’s nomination, Barataria/ San Juan MP Dr Fuad Khan has said the next CoP does not have to be a police officer. Khan said that person should someone with management skills. On Wednesday, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young said Griffith’s status as a witness in a case against former attorney general Anand Ramlogan does not debar him from being appointed the next CoP.

Young has also urged members of the Police Service to “do what is right for the country and work with who is decided as the next CoP.” The House has previously rejected similar motions to appoint Acting CoP Stephen Williams and Deputy Police Commissioners Deodat Dulalchan and Harold Phillip to the post. Williams begins pre-retirement leave in September. Leader of Government Business Camille Robinson-Regis that the motion to approve Griffith’s nomination is the only business that the House will consider on Monday.

ORIGINAL STORY:

FORMER national security minister Gary Griffith has the qualities to become this country's next Commissioner of Police (CoP). Griffith's former Cabinet colleague Prakash Ramadhar expressed this view today. The St Augustine MP also said as far as he can recall, the practice of selecting a CoP has always involved choosing either a serving member of the Police Service or someone with "a police background."

Given the "viciousness" of the crime taking place in the country today, Ramadhar said different strategies are needed to combat it. He said he was not averse to a CoP not being someone picked from the rank and file of the Police Service. The House of Representatives sits on Monday at 1.30 pm to debate a motion to approve Griffith's nomination for CoP. The House has previously rejected similar motions to appoint Acting CoP Stephen Williams and Deputy Police Commissioners Deodat Dulalchan and Harold Phillip to the post.

Leader of Government Business Camille Robinson-Regis has indicated that the motion to approve Griffith's nomination is the only business that the House will consider on Monday.