The House of Representatives has approved a motion to appoint Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Suzette Martin to the position of Deputy Commissioner of Police.
The motion was brought to the House by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and piloted by Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds last evening.
It was passed with 18 votes for, 14 against, and no abstentions.
Hinds read details of Martin’s resume to the House, pointing out that she currently leads the Professional Standards Bureau of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and had worked with the Homicide Bureau and the Fraud Squad before moving up the ranks to an inspector and then an ACP.
She joined the TTPS in 1997 and holds a Master of Business Administration degree with merit from the Anglia Ruskin University, as well as a Master in International Business and Law from the same university.
She also holds a diploma from the University of the West Indies in Applied Studies and Project Management, together with several other certificates and qualifications.
Opposition Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal told the House that while they were impressed with her resume, it was concerned that she had been a part of the team that travelled to Barbados to escort T&T national Brent Thomas back to T&T in October 2023.
That matter is still before the court.
Moonilal also raised concerns about her involvement in a matter involving firearm user licences.
When the motion was put to the vote, all Opposition MPs present voted against it and it was approved on the strength of the Government’s majority.