Chairman of the Police Service Commission Christopher Thomas has said maybe the time has come for Government to change the law regarding the selection process for the role of Police Commissioner. Thomas made the comments following a press briefing yesterday by the commission at Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre, St Ann's. According to Thomas, the legal process provided certain criteria for the selection process, including inviting foreign applicants.
He said: "Whether the criteria is spread too widely it is a matter for Parliament. We don't make those decisions. It is up to the Government. "If the Government of the day decides it does not want a foreigner then they will have to go back to Parliament to change the law and perhaps they need to look at that." He said as the law stood at the moment, regional and international applicants were invited to apply, adding that the process was not restricted to locals.
He added: "If Parliament did not accept the first nominee on the grounds that he was a foreigner then they would not accept the second and third. "But that is not a decision for the commission. It is one for Parliament." Saying the commission's role was restricted, Thomas said it did not include administrative procedures of the selection process.