PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds said Deputy Commissioner of Police McDonald Jacob will continue to lead the Trinidad & Tobago Police Service (TTPS) until a new Commissioner of Police is appointed.
This following a ruling by a High Court judge that invalidated the appointment of Gary Griffith as acting Commissioner of Police.
Jacob’s appointment as acting Commissioner of Police, after Griffith went on leave and was suspended, was also declared null and void by Justice Nadia Kangaloo.
But Hinds said in his statement: “While there is a vacancy in the post of Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police McDonald Jacob, by virtue of his being the most senior police officer in the TTPS, remains in charge of the said Police Service from this substantive office, until such time as a Commissioner of Police is appointed in accordance with the now settled law.
“As Minister of National Security, and on behalf of the Government of Trinidad & Tobago, I here give the public the assurance, that the TTPS will continue to execute its responsibility to the people of T&T, without let or hindrance, as it is so mandated under the laws of T&T.”
Justice Kangaloo handed down her judgment in a matter filed by social activist Ravi Balgobin Maharaj, who petitioned the court to rule on the procedure set out in Section 123 of the Constitution, governing the power of the Police Service Commission to appoint a substantive Commissioner of Police and an acting Commissioner of Police.
Griffith, whose three-year contract as top cop ended on August 17, was appointed to act in the position by the Service Commission from August 18. He was, however, suspended from duty on September 21, while on leave, pending an investigation into allegations of corruption in the granting of firearm licences.
The suspension was subsequently revoked after he took the Service Commission to court, but he agreed to stay off the job pending the outcome of the probe.
Maharaj filed an interpretation lawsuit in which he argued that the Service Commission needed the approval of the House of Representatives to make acting and substantive appointments for the Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioners of Police.
Justice Kangaloo agreed that Section 123(2) to 123(5) of the T&T Constitution was not followed.
Under that section, the Service Commissiom was required to prepare a list with its nominations, have it issued to the President, who would then have it issued to the House of Representatives for consideration and approval by both the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition.
Although the list was sent to President Paula-Mae Weekes on August 12, it was not issued to Parliament, but the Service Commission appointed Griffith to act.
Minister Hinds said the judge’s decision resolved the issue of the interpretation of the Constitution, in relation to the appointment of an Acting Commissioner of Police.
(CMC)
