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THE debate for the nomination of Deputy Commissioner of Police will be done “in due course,” according to Leader of Government business Camille Robinson-Regis.
In a WhatsApp response to Newsday on Saturday, Robinson-Regis said the matter is still on the Order Paper and “remain available for debate in due course.”
The matter which was scheduled to be debated on Friday was left untouched.
It will not be debated on March 26, as it that day is Private Members Day, and the following Friday is also unavailable because of the Good Friday holiday.
For over three years, the police service has not had a substantive any DCPs with the exception of Stephen Williams. Williams retired in 2019 and was the last confirmed DCP in the police service.
In August last year Police Commissioner Gary Griffith lamented that not having a substantive DCP was stressful. The lack of three DCPs, Griffith said then, was hampering the police service from running as efficiently as he would like.
“I have voiced my concerns and can’t speak on behalf of the Police Service Commission. I know they are doing what they can as quickly as possible but I have been CoP for two years and I have no substantive DCPs for that period.”
He added then: “As we have it, three most seniors Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACPs) become acting DCPs and that is not necessarily the best. They need to act on it and there is nothing I can do, there is a process and unfortunately I can’t clarify further. I just hope that on behalf of the TTPS this can be rectified as quickly as possible.”
Months late the commission submitted three names following rounds of interviews by consultancy firm Odyssey. Those selected were head of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) Insp Mark Hernandez, acting DCP McDonald Jacob and Supt Andre Norton, who head the Police Academy.
The trio were short-listed out of an unknown number of applicants. Sunday Newsday was told by chair of the commission Bliss Seepersad that the process was “still ongoing” and she could not divulge how many applications were submitted for the post.
The three names were forwarded to Parliament by the Office of the President on March 12 for approval with Jacob being the first to be debated. Parliament has the power to veto the suggestions which will cause the entire process to restart.
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