In five days, the one-year extension granted to Erla Harewood-Christopher to remain this country’s Commissioner of Police will expire. However, despite the looming deadline, the Cabinet remains mum on whether they’ll grant a second extension.
Harewood-Christopher was expected to retire after May 14, 2023—when she turned 60—but she was granted an extension by the Cabinet under Section 75 of the Police Service Act.
Under the Act, the President has the power to extend the term of a first division officer who is due to retire if it is in the national interest. Police officers are further eligible for two additional one-year extensions based on their annual performance reviews. With Harewood-Christopher’s 61st birthday to be celebrated next Tuesday, the extension will expire on Wednesday.
Asked at the post-Cabinet media briefing about the top CoP process and a possible second extension, acting Prime Minister Colm Imbert had no update.
“I am unable to answer that question at this point in time,” he said.
His response, came one day after Attorney General Reginald Armour said during a press conference that, “It would be premature for me to speak to something that Cabinet has to consider. I do not wish to be premature.”
When pressed further on Wednesday, Armour said he was not at liberty to divulge what Cabinet had discussed and when a decision was made it would become government policy.
It’s important to note that an acting commissioner of police can only be appointed by the President once Parliament approves the nominee.
Nevertheless, the Police Service Commission (PolSC) is continuing its search for a substantive commissioner having advertised the position on April 11.
A source at the PolSC confirmed to Guardian Media that they are yet to receive a list of potential candidates although the window for applications expired at 4 pm on May 3.
The source explained that the information goes to the secretariat who performs a preliminary screening of applications by fact-checking the information presented before the process can move forward.
Speaking on CNC3’s The Morning Brew on April 22, attorney and former PolSC member Martin George described the process to appoint a CoP in Trinidad and Tobago as “unnecessary” and “cumbersome”.
His comment followed the Opposition’s rejection of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill on April 19, which sought to allow the PolSC to appoint acting commissioners without the approval of the House of Representatives.