DPA: Blame Gibbs, Ewatski for delay in appointing CoP

Director of Personnel Administration (DPA) Gloria Edwards-Joseph said it was the “sudden departure” of former police commissioner Dwayne Gibbs and deputy police commissioner Jack Ewatski which led to the delay in the selection process for a top cop. Edwards-Joseph and members of the Police Service Commission appeared before a parliamentary joint select committee yesterday to account for several matters.

Chairing the proceedings was Senator Subhas Ramkhelawan who called for tighter measures to ensure the selection process was more effective. Edwards-Joseph, however, said she was hopeful the process could be completed in the next three to four months once all the funds were released.

She said the process was expected to cost $4 million but only half the funds had been released. Discussions with the Ministry of Finance, she said, had already begun for the additional funding. “I engaged Nipdec to do the process for me and once I sign off—because I got communication with them on Thursday—then they would proceed to do the tender,” she said.

“Once Nipdec is engaged, we are hoping to have Nipdec run through the time frame within a three-month framework, bearing in mind they must follow the legislation, we should have the process completed in March/April. “The commission extended the commissioner up to the end of June and I would hope that the appointment can be made in time so that we do not have to do any further extension.”

She said the same process used in 2009 would  be used again. This entailed a shortlist of candidates and interviews conducted by the commission. Edwards-Joseph said, “If the three-year contract of Mr Gibbs and Mr Ewatski had come to an end in a normal way, the commission would have been able to anticipate six months or nine months prior to the termination of that contract coming to an end, and start the process.”

Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Rodger Samuel also levelled his share of criticism, saying there was a lack of “proactiveness” on the part of the commission. “My concern is one of the reasons given is it is a sudden resignation, when death likewise is sudden, and what do we do when suddenness comes? Are we prepared for it?” Samuel asked.