Gibbs refutes PNM claims that he bought his degrees

Dwayne Gibbs

The Police Service issued a release Sunday responding to claims made in parliament by Colm Imbert in which the Diego Martin North/East member said Gibbs got his doctorate from a discredited American degree mill.

Imbert alleged that Gibbs got his degree in three months without anttending any classes.

“Anybody who buys their degree for $4,000 from a diploma mill in the United States, comes to Trinidad and Tobago and parades and turns around as Doctor Gibbs, you have to watch that fella, Mr Speaker,” Imbert said.

However in a statement Sunday, Sharon Lee Assang, director of the Police Public Affairs Unit, said Gibbs completed all course work and received his joint PhD/MBA degree from California Coast University in 2006 after studying for five years.

She stated further that the university holds accreditation through the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) and is recognised as a national accrediting agency by the United States Department of Education.

“His dissertation associated with this doctorate degree was entitled, 'Police Officer Acceptance of Community Policing: The Edmonton Experience'.

“He also was awarded a Master of Arts degree in Sociology majoring in Criminal Justice Administration and Corrections and a Bachelor of Education degree in Biological Sciences, both from the University of Alberta,” Lee Assang said.

She also stated that PNM MP Donna Cox was wrong when she stated that Gibbs spent “a lot of money” to buy newly-designed police uniforms without cabinet approval.

She explained that the uniforms were commissioned as a pilot programme intended "as a prelude to widespread adoption of more climate-appropriate and comfortable apparel for the benefit of all of our officers." 

She added, "Some 300 uniforms were purchased as part of this pilot at a cost of approximately $550,000—far less than the sum being reported. These uniforms will now be used in the Training Academy as part of the trainee attire representing a responsible and necessary expenditure.”

And on the matter of the procurement of a training aircraft Lee Assang noted that no purchase was made. The plan was for the lease of a light surveillance plane for a period of 12 weeks. 

The solicitor general's advice is that the contract is void and that Gibbs not have the authority to enter into such a contract.