Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher has apologised to her officers after the legitimacy of some 900 promotions of constables to corporals was brought into question.
In an internal memo on December 6, Harewood-Christopher said, “I understand and appreciate the far-reaching implication of the concerns raised, not just for the affected ranks, but for all officers of the TTPS and for confidence in our promotion processes going forward. In the circumstances, I wish to sincerely apologise for this unfortunate incident, and for the adverse impacts it would have on the affected officers.”
In another internal memo on November 20, titled “Revised Merit List for Promotion in the Rank of Corporal, which was directed to the acting Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ramnarine Samaroo, Harewood-Christopher had called on Samaroo to “identify the officers who were erroneously promoted; the anticipated challenges that will arise when the revised merit list is published; the anticipated impact on the Second Division and the remedial plans to cushion the anticipated impact when the revised list is published..
Samaroo was given until November 22 to respond.
In her December memo, Harewood-Christopher said after she was notified of “anomalies in the allocation of marks,” she immediately convened a meeting with Samaroo requesting a comprehensive written report, which he submitted.
The report, she said, is now being reviewed, “with a view of determining the nature, source, and extent of any possible anomalies.”
Harewood-Christopher said she understood the implications raised in the public domain and the service affecting the promoted officers, and its impact on the confidence in the T&T Police Service’s (TTPS) promotion processes.
“I wish to assure all interested stakeholders that I am committed to ensuring that the outcome of this exercise meets the required standards of integrity, transparency and accountability. To this end, I propose to engage an external legal team headed by a senior counsel to provide legal advice and make recommendations that will bring a resolution of this matter in the best interest of all concerned. In this regard, I am hopeful for an expeditious resolution of this matter.”
Last month, TTPS Social and Welfare Association president, ASP Gideon Dickson, said the repercussions will affect officers’ morale if promotions are taken away or reviewed.
He noted that some officers on the list passed promotion exams as far back as 2009 and were waiting for over a decade to be promoted. He added that if the matter needed to go to court, he and the association was ready to do so.
When contacted yesterday on the CoP’s latest memo on the matter, however, Dickson said he was not going to respond at this time.
In a media release in June, the TTPS said the integrity of its promotion process was intact amidst growing concerns that there were irregularities in the process.
Part of the release then said, “While promotion interview questions and assumed answers may be circulating on social media, the TTPS stands by the integrity of the promotion process and can assure all candidates and stakeholders, that such information did not originate from the Promotion Advisory Board or the TTPS. However, the TTPS will re-examine the stringency of its procedures, to further ensure that the integrity of this important promotion exercise is maintained.”
