Ewatski to review new appraisal for ‘objectivity, transparency and fairness’

Discussions regarding the criteria for a second appraisal by the Police Service Commission have been described as productive by Deputy Police Commissioner Jack Ewatski. Ewatski, however, said he was disappointed how his concerns were addressed by the commission regarding the first appraisal process.

Ewatski and DCPs Mervyn Richardson and Stephen Williams individually met with the commission’s chairman Prof Ramesh Deosaran and other commission members at the commission’s office on Queen’s Street, Port-of-Spain, on Monday. Ewatski, in an interview, said his meeting lasted close to 90 minutes.

“The meeting was cordial and productive. I thought what was presented to me was a very comprehensive new appraisal process,” Ewatski said. Each DCP was given until the end of the month to address concerns and make recommendations to the commission on the new criteria.

Saying he would be reviewing the process in great detail, Ewatski said, “I will compare it to my knowledge of best practice in the area of performance appraisal and the various systems I am aware of based on the principles of objectivity, transparency and fairness.” The DCP, who refused to sign his performance appraisal, expressed his concerns in a six-page letter sent to Deosaran in February.

In the letter, Ewatski stated: “My refusal to sign the appraisal was rooted in my belief that the process used to evaluate my performance was seriously flawed, rendering the results invalid.” In a telephone interview yesterday, Ewatski said he received a written response “a few weeks ago” from a senior counsel who was hired on behalf of the commission.

Without disclosing the nature of the response by the attorney, Ewatski said, “It has been made very clear to me this was the only response I would get to my concerns...it did not meet my expectations and I am disappointed. “I was expecting a detailed response but what I received did not meet my expectations.” He added he went into great detail to express his concerns regarding the first criteria.

“The reason why I outlined these concerns was also to work with the Police Service Commission and to support its role and its constitutional mandate. “I identified what I believed to be flawed in the process the Police Service Commission used and to offer these as points to consider in the future, so any further appraisal process would meet the principles of objectivity, transparency and fairness,” Ewatski said.

Saying he was aware of the role and  functions of the commission, Ewatski said he always maintained a professional relationship with Deosaran. “I have never disrespected that role and I am hopeful we could continue to work and develop and reinforce a relationship that will serve the commission and myself but most of all, the people of this country.”