Derek Achong
Senior Reporter
derek.achong@guardian.co.tt
The T&T Police Service (TTPS) has agreed to disclose information compiled by the Promotions Advisory Board (PAB) in relation to a group of police constables seeking to prove that they were bypassed for promotion.
Although the TTPS initially refused disclosure after the officers filed separate cases under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) last year, it communicated a shift in position in correspondence sent to the officers’ lawyers, led by Keron Ramkhalwhan of Juris X Chambers, this week.
The legal dispute stemmed from a promotion exercise to the rank of Corporal that was administered by former police commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher in late 2023.
A merit list was published, and almost 900 officers, who purportedly topped it (the list), were promoted.
The officers sought the disclosure of the scores of the individual officers on the list, as well as the disclosure of the notes and information considered by the board in relation to them, after the TTPS admitted that there were errors in the original list and sought to amend it.
In June, the TTPS disclosed the scores but refused the other request on the basis that such personal and sensitive information relative to the requesting officers was exempt from disclosure.
In an affidavit in response to the lawsuits over the undisclosed information, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Junior Benjamin questioned why the officers still wanted information relative to the initial merit list that admittedly had errors and was subsequently corrected following an internal audit.
“I assert that there is no public interest in the disclosure of inaccurate and misleading personal information,” Benjamin said.
Once the requested information is provided, the officers and their attorneys will consider it and determine whether they should pursue further litigation over being bypassed for promotion.
The officers are also represented by Shalini Sankar and Annesia Gunness.
The TTPS was represented by Michael Quamina, SC, Maria Belmar, Zara Smith, Chantelle Le Gall, and Ria Brereton.
