The Parliament meets today to discuss the nomination of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mc Donald Jacob for appointment to act in the office of Commissioner of Police.
The country has been without a Commissioner or Acting Commissioner of Police since mid-October when Jacobs tenure as acting Commissioner came to an end almost at the same time as High Court Judge Nadia Kangaloo ruled that the former Police Service Commission led by Bliss Seepersad had unlawfully appointed Gary Griffith to the position of Acting Commissioner of Police. The appointment of Griffith had come after his official term ended in August.
In an effort to fill the void left in October, the Minister of Finance Colm Imbert advised the country that in accordance with Section 2 of the Exchequer and Audit Act, Chapter 69:01 and Regulation 3 of the Financial Regulations, Jacob was being appointed Accounting Officer for the TTPS from October 15 and until further notice.
While the service has been operating, there is no denying that the leadership vacuum in the police service has had the force in limbo. In recent weeks there has been an upsurge in criminal activity, and while there may be no link, it is clear that the issues facing the police service must be addressed.
There has been uncertainty and bitterness revolving around the police service and the perceived treatment meted out to former top CoP Griffith, including allegations that a high ranking public official interfered with the Merit List compiled by the former Chair of the PSC Bliss Seepersad.
The Police Service is too important to the national security of this country for the uncertainty and bitterness that emanated from the process to continue. There is hope that the new Police Service Commission led by retired Justice of Appeal Judith Jones will fix the problems once and for all.
While the country awaits the process and a new merit list to move this important institution forward, the blood flowing in the country must step and it requires strong leadership.
Criminologist Professor Ramesh Deosaran only last week urged the public to support Jacob, whom he described as a “man of integrity, someone who came through the ranks of the police service and understands the internal workings of the organisation.”
This newspaper holds no brief for anyone in the race for Commissioner of Police, but it is clear that there is a leadership gap that must be filled in the Police Service. Citizens need to have a sense of security that has been lacking over the past two months. Yesterday National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said he looks forward to going to Parliament today to appoint DCP Jacob as Acting Commissioner, saying he believes it is something that the public has been crying out for.
One hopes that when the matter goes before the House of Representatives today, that all elected MPs will put the safety and security of the country at the top of their agenda and that at the end of the day, the issue of an Acting Commissioner will be amicably resolved in the interest of country, and that everyone who has a say will put country first. Neither the country nor the Police Service can afford to continue in limbo. An Acting Commissioner is essential, at least until the new Jones-led PSC acts on appointing a new Commissioner of Police.