PSC nominees should withdraw, says Jack Nominees for the Police Service Commission (PSC) James Armstrong and Raomar Achat-Saney should withdraw their names and save this country the embarrassment says interim leader of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) Jack Warner. Warner, the MP for Chaguanas West who was speaking at the Parliament sitting yesterday, at Tower D, International Waterfront Centre, Port of Spain on the motion to approve members to the PSC, pointed out that eminent jurists such as Karl Hudson-Phillips, Dana Seetahal and former head of the public service Reginald Dumas, have all raised concerns over the appointments and the lack of qualifications as required according to the Constitution. Warner pointed out that persons who had received the status of senior counsel or “silk” have returned it with “honour and dignity” when issues were raised. “What these people (Armstrong and Saney) have to do is to hang back and say we are no longer interested and save this country the embarrassment and save this Government from taking the gang of five and giving them hefty fees which they would lose,” said Warner. Warner further noted the importance of the PSC in the functioning of the Police Service and the necessity for proper management expertise. He said when he spent his “10 days” as National Security Minister he was advised it would take some six years for the PSC to complete all hearings on appeals before it. He noted that last year only three appeals were heard while, there are over 234 outstanding. Warner went on to quote a newspaper report which spoke of the issue of police officers concerns over the promotion system in the service. He questioned how could Armstrong or Saney resolve this situation which has angered hundreds of police officers. Warner also knocked the Government for its delay in bringing the motion to Parliament. He said the tenure of the PSC Commissioner expired on July 20 while President Anthony Carmona made his nominations after consultations with the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader on September 4. He questioned why it took the Government nine weeks to bring the motion to the Parliament. “I know Madame Deputy Speaker for the past nine weeks they were fighting for their political life all over the place and failing but at the end of the day the country has to be governed....you can’t put the country on auto pilot while you campaign...whether you have to campaign with a powder girl or not, that is your business, at the end of the day you have work to do and one of the things you have to do is to appoint a Police Service Commission to run the Police Service,” he said. “You could bring Bratton and Bratton sister and Bratton aunt, that doesn’t correct the situation because the country is getting tired of optics and PR,” he added. He said the Government’s move to approve Armstrong and Saney was wrong on all levels- for the PSC, the Police Service and for the country. (Source: Trinidad Express)
Posted on: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 10:40:01 +0000