Former Deputy Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Martin George, has described the delay by the Police Service Commission (PolSC) to issue official correspondence confirming Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher’s lifted suspension as a “scandalous outrage.”
Speaking to TTT News on Wednesday, Mr. George questioned the possible reason for the delay.
“There appears to be no good reason why the Police Service Commission has not taken that step yet. If you would have had sight or knowledge of the release from the DPP and based upon your own internal investigations and if you have no reason for continuing the suspension from duty, then it appears to be on the part of the Commission a dereliction of duty for them to not have issued such a letter in a very prompt and timely manner.”
Mr. George said Mrs. Harewood-Christopher’s Attorney, Senior Counsel Pamela Elder, consulted him on Tuesday regarding the matter.
“I made it pellucid that such a letter would normally be issued immediately because you cannot have this state of flux and confusion within the upper echelons of the Police Service when that particularly was your stated reason or one of the things that may have actuated your decision to suspend Mrs. Christopher from her duties in the first place. You wanted to ensure there is good governance and management within the service. Okay, so now that she has been cleared, then what could possibly be the delay in issuing the letter?”
Mr. George believes this situation will affect the public’s trust in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. He called on the Commission to publicly explain the succession plan for the leadership of the TTPS.