Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) Dr Maria Therese Gomes is extending an olive branch to the Government over moves to implement a new selection process for the appointment of a commissioner of police and deputy commissioner.
Dr Gomes said this during an interview with the T&T Guardian, Friday, one day after the PSC approved Stephen Williams as acting Commissioner of Police for an unprecedented seventh consecutive six-month period.
With more than 40 murders within the first 28 days of the year, Gomes said Williams scored well in his performance appraisal and, with the implementation of the new legislation to appoint a substantive commissioner, the PSC decided to retain Williams.
"Based on that (performance appraisal) as well as the fact that there is new legislation for us, it doesn't make any sense to do something differently," the PSC chairman said, as "you don't want to disrupt anything because the commissioner has done the best that he can do, given the fact that he has been acting all that time."
She insisted, "The best thing in our estimation is to continue (with Williams)."
Among the major responsibilities of the Police Service Commission are the appointment of a commissioner of police and the monitoring and appraisal of his performance.
But according to Gomes, the PSC has serious concerns with the new legislation because of a lack of consultation.
"We have not been contacted (for consultations) on how new legislation is going to be implemented. We don't know exactly how that is going to play out in terms of the selection (process)."
She insisted the PSC was still unaware of critical aspects of the measure. "Yes, yes... if left hand doesn't tell right hand what is happening and vice versa, we will not be moving ahead," Gomes added.
The new legislation, which became law last December, provides for the National Security minister to request the PSC, via the Central Tenders Board Act, to acquire an appropriate local firm to invite applications for the posts of commissioner and deputy commissioner.
Gomes said the PSC must be provided with additional resources to carry out that exercise.
"We don't have the money to do it. So that we don't have money to do any of the things that they would want us to do."
In seeking to further explain the PSC's predicament due to a lack of consultations, Gomes said, "If for instance the minister of National Security, as the legislation says, comes to the commission and says let's start the process...how are we starting the process?"
The PSC head said all citizens, including the PSC and the Government, would like a permanent appointment as commissioner.
She said, however, the problem was the way to achieve that.
"It is about the how and that is why the consultations are necessary."
Identifying another major concern of the PSC, Gomes said, "In order for us to implement the new legislation the (PSC) would have to be strengthened, we would have to be strengthened in terms of our human capital and financial resources."
Asked to elaborate, Gomes said, "We have to build the capacity of the staff, yes, we are still in the dark."
Gomes said the PSC would like to partner with those in authority on the issue of the appointment of a commissioner of police. "I am extending the olive branch to those in authority who have been drafters and agreed on the new legislation. The PSC is extending an olive branch. My doors are open. I am inviting you to consult with us," she added. Gomes also said the commission was looking at the contributions made in Parliament during the debate to annul the police orders, to formulate a position on the matter.
She said while the Government "may be doing something in the background, we have to be consulted (as) we are the duly constituted body to deal with the selection in terms of appointing a commissioner of police."
Williams has been acting since 2012 when Canadian Dwayne Gibbs resigned as commissioner of police.
Williams' new appointment expires in July. He is among a number of T&T nationals expected to apply for the post under the new selection process.
A move by the Opposition in Parliament to annul the orders was defeated. Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has said the matter will be challenged in court.