Panday says PSC's hunt for police chief is exercise in futility

Opposition leader Basdeo Panday believes the Police Service Commission's (PSC) statement that it has started the second stage in the process of finding a new Commissioner of Police (CoP) is likely to be an exercise in futility.

A statement from the United National Congress (UNC) Tuesday says the PSC's attempt to fill the post in 2008 was frustrated after it went through the various stages of assessing applicants for the post with support from the Pennsylvania State University Justice and Safety Institute.

The exercise cost $2.3 million and the government rejected the number one choice, Supt. Stephen Williams, in favour of James Philbert, who is still acting and will be on the job until at least Dec. 15, although he has passed the mandatory retirement age.

The statement also noted that Prime Minister Patrick Manning also rejected the top candidate for the post of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Carla Browne Antoine.

"Despite giving assurances to the Nation in February that Ms Antoine would have been appointed, the Prime Minister never made the appointment. Other critical vacancies include the offices of Chief Parliamentary Council and the Solicitor General," Panday said.

He wants to know why the government has failed to fill these these positions, which are essential to a fully functional administration of justice.

"Having usurped the power of the PSC once before by overturning their recommendation, it is clear that the next Commissioner of Police is unlikely to be the PSC’s choice, but that of the Government," Panday said.