A recent promotion exercise to the rank of corporal for municipal police officers didn’t go well for a group, including officers who have been acting in the position over the last six years.
The officers are now currently looking at their legal options and have already sought legal advice with a Senior Counsel.
Last Tuesday, several municipal police officers, including from Port-of-Spain City Corporation (POSCC), San Fernando City Corporation, Point Fortin Borough Corporation and the Arima Borough Corporation were promoted to police corporals.
However, 20 officers from the POSCC, including five who were already in the acting corporal positions, weren’t promoted and officers are now claiming that they are being victimised and discriminated against.
Speaking to Guardian Media, under strict anonymity, one of the officers said earlier this year they were met with the same “disrespect” when they were not promoted during a promotional exercise.
The officer said they did send a pre-action protocol letter subsequent to the first set of promotions. The officers were represented by attorney Anand Ramlogan SC.
“We thought this time around that we would have been promoted since we have been acting in the positions, some of us for over six years. There is a lot of favouritism and spite going on and how is it possible for junior officers than us to be promoted to corporals. Why? We are left very disappointed and very angry” the officer said.
Guardian Media understands that among the 97 officers interviewed, 41 of them were promoted, including the officer who is currently on suspension. That officer was suspended four years ago, on the heels of a shooting incident in St James whilst on wrecking duties.
“How can an officer who is on suspension be promoted? How can that be right? And us, who really deserve the promotion have not been promoted,” the disgruntled officer said.
When contacted for comment yesterday Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein expressed deep concern and promised to have a personal intervention in this matter. “If this is the case, that will demotivate them,” Hosein said.
Hosein said part of his enquiries would be to contact the Assistant Commissioner of Municipal Police.