Doubles with slight pepper, roti and ox-tail soup have become his favourite local dishes. Former deputy police commissioner Jack Ewatski is hoping to find such cuisine in his hometown of Winnipeg, Canada, which he boasts as having a wide array of West Indian dishes. "There is much local cuisine that I will miss. Before I get on the aircraft I'll probably go over to the doubles stand and have a last doubles," Ewatski said yesterday. In an interview yesterday at the Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain, Ewatski pledged his support to the country and to newly-appointed acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams. Spending his final hours packing away files, Ewatski also tided his closet containing his khaki uniforms and dark brown shoes, which were returned to the Police Service. In a farewell luncheon at Police Administration Building yesterday, Ewatski said he was heartened by the words of encouragement of his former staff, including clerks. He added: "Many people had expressed to me the value they thought that I brought to the TTPS in my short period of time here and that makes me feel very good. "Many of them have told me what memories they are going to have of me and what type of impression that I have left in their minds, both professionally and personally. That makes me feel really good and it reinforces I did add something of value to this organisation."
Saying he has had very good talks with Williams even before his acting appointment, Ewatski described his relationship with Williams as courteous and professional. He said: "I have had some very good talks with Mr Williams. I reinforced the fact that we needed to work together, we need to tap in competencies and the skills of everybody within the organisation whether it be at the senior level... at all ranks in the organisation. "Some of the best ideas come from the lower ranks and we needed to really utilise that... and let people use imagination on how that can improve the Police Service," Ewatski said. He also wished Williams the best of luck in his new portfolio, adding the role of Police Commissioner was a "tough job." He said: "Whether it be the Commissioner of Police in Trinidad and Tobago or the chief of police somewhere else, it is a very difficult job. "There are many things which you have to balance. I think Mr Williams has got a very strong team and I told him whenever he wants to communicate I certainly would be interested and I am interested because I have invested in the future of this police organisation." He said Williams' response to final talks also was very encouraging. Ewatski also expressed confidence in Williams' ability to effectively tackle crime and to properly command his charges.
He added: "I always have had a very good relationship with Mr Williams and he knows what needs to be done in terms of addressing the issue of crime but also in terms of the transformation of the Police Service. "We are on the same page in terms of wanting to strengthen this Police Service and I know he has some of his own ideas. He's going to build on some of the things that have occurred over the last two years and I am encouraged by that." He said his discussions with Williams also extended to the new deputy police commissioners as part of implementing strategies and improving the organisation. Ewatski, however, urged all officers to strive to rebuild the public confidence, saying this was a primary factor in tackling crime. He said: "Building public confidence is absolutely critical and everybody needs to continue to work on that and never take it for granted that you have the public trust and confidence just because we are the police. "We need to continue to build that and without that we are not going to move ahead. As a Police Service we are not going to be more effective if we don't build on that. I know Mr Williams and the other members of the executive understand that too." The impression which Ewatski also hopes to leave behind are his management skills. He said treating people with respect and dignity were also crucial in managing an efficient Police Service. He added: "Many of them commented on my management style and I hope they see the value of that... in treating people in a very humanistic way. "It's very important, whether it be the very junior officers or the very senior officers, people have to be treated as human beings."
He described his fondest memories since coming to Trinidad and Tobago almost two years ago was the warmth of the people and the friendships he has forged within the Police Service and in the various communities. He added: "Despite all the bacchanal that goes on constantly in the country, I have had tremendous interaction with people who are genuinely warm and friendly and I have been embraced by many people in this country and they made me feel very comfortable. "That was important... being far away from home in a very difficult challenging position... to be able to develop relationships with people. This has been very supportive to me and that has given me the strength that goes well beyond my family I have at home. "Obviously my family have always been supportive but having the support of people locally has been important and that will be fondest memory... those quality individuals who I have had the honour to have some interaction with and build relationships with."