Canadian Dwayne Gibbs take charge of T&T police

Dwayne Gibbs is expected to assume office Tuesday as the new Commissioner of Police (CoP) of Trinidad and Tobago, taking over from Stephen Williams, who has been acted in the post since the departure of James Philbert earlier this month.

Gibbs, a Canadian, is a former Superintendent of Police in the city of Edmonton, Alberta.

Another Canadian, Jack Ewatski, is also taking up duties Tuesday as a Deputy Commissioner of Police. There are two other deputies, both of them nationals of Trinidad and Tobago.

Both men have said they are committed to do what's necessary to bring crime under control and restore confidence in the police service.

They told the media, "We understand fully the expectations in Trinidad and we look forward to the partnership and the support of everyone here to actually make a difference. A difference, of course, has to be for the people of Trinidad.

"It has to be for their quality of life, and to reduce the crime and fear of crime that the people have experienced."

Gibbs said, "Policing is a very noble profession, which has been part of my life for numerous years and I am just very thrilled and excited to be able to come here and work with the women and men of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service".

Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) Nizam Mohammed told Gibbs and Ewatski Trinidad and Tobago "is living with the highest of expectation", adding that the country expects that Gibbs would do his best "to confront the crime situation in the country."