Human Resources and industrial relations expert Courtney McNish was on Friday approved by Parliament as a member of the Police Service Commission (PSC).
The PSC is responsible for overseeing appointment of the Police Commissioner (CoP)a nd deputy CoPs and for assessing their performance. The PSC is also a tribunal for disciplinary matters regarding other T&T Police Service members.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, who detailed McNish’s lengthy list of qualifications, said, "We believe Mr McNish is qualified to hold this post. He’s broadly experienced and highly qualified in very many areas suitable for appointment to this job.
“This citizen, like many others, chose to put aside self and embrace service to the wider national community, especially at this time when people who enter public arenas are subject to all kinds of villification and ridicule for no good reason other than spite, malice and hatred. Many people qualified like him shy away from public service.”
Rowley said when people agree to serve, “...We a grateful nation should say thanks.”
McNish holds diplomas in HR and IR fields. He also has a BA degree from London University, plus a Masters’ degree in law. He holds experience in strategic and tactical HR work, labour sector norms, contract negotiations, dispute arbitration and industrial court advocacy.
A former SWWTU branch official, he was IR manager at the Airports Authority of T&T, and HR manager at Carib Brewery. He was also group HR manager at Trinidad Cement Ltd. McNish joined Caribbean Airlines in 2008 as a HR vice-president and now has his own firm in Chaguanas.
UNC MP Rudy Indarsingh, who said the Opposition supported the appointment, said he hoped McNish’s expertise would assist the TTPS’ effectiveness and organisational reform. He called for McNish to advise on performance apprisals for the CoP and deputy CoPs and for his expertise to be used to fill vacancies, confirm deputy commissioners and guide compensation on the basis of performance apprisal.