Shane Superville
Senior Reporter
shane.superville@guardian.co.tt
ACP Curt Simon has denied media reports that the file on the probe into DCP Suzette Martin, in the matter involving the arrest of businessman Brent Thomas, has gone missing.
“No file in this investigation or anything touching this investigation is missing. I saw something where somebody said that the DCP I and I (Intelligence and Investigations) requested that I produce a file to her. There has not been any such request coming my way,” Simon said in relation to a story published in yesterday’s Newsday.
He refused further comment, saying he was careful to observe the rules regarding matters considered sub judice (a matter prohibited from public discussion due to investigation or judicial consideration).
Attempts to contact Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro via phone and WhatsApp were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, sources disclosed that Martin remained on active duty up to yesterday.
The Police Service Commission (PolSC) has, so far, not responded to queries about why Martin remains on duty despite the probe.
When asked about this last week, Guevarro said questions over whether Martin would be placed on leave should be directed to the PolSC, noting this was the only body authorised to suspend police officers.
However, criminologist Daurius Figuera says the commission should at least address the matter publicly to quell concerns over transparency and fairness in their treatment of officers.
Referring to the arrest of former commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher earlier this year, Figuera said the difference was glaring, as Harewood-Christopher was issued her suspension letter by the PolSC while still in police custody on January 31.
He said the commission should at least address the matter to prevent any concerns of favouritism within the TTPS.
“The delay on the part of the Police Service Commission has to be addressed, given the rapidity in which the same commission moved to suspend former police commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher and that is what I am looking at in this affair. What I would really like to know is if there are different rules for different persons, because they acted swiftly and expeditiously with former commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher,” he said.
“This is sending a message to the public that does not bode well to the integrity of the TTPS in the eyes of the public. It again raises the question in the eyes of the public of if there are sacred cows in the police service, whilst your former (Police) commissioner was certainly not a sacred cow.”
Last week, former PolSC chair Professor Ramesh Deosaran also urged the current commission to announce whether suspension was at least being considered for Martin.
Figuera agreed that while the matter was a sensitive issue, the PolSC also had a responsibility to preserve the integrity of any enquiry, especially one with such high public interest.
“The longer they remain silent, they are eroding any public faith in your operational integrity, because remember they set a standard with former commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher, which it appears they are applying selectively, and that is the impression they are generating in public.”