Promotion madness in the police force

Jan 13, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
As the Police Force waits the result of the ongoing battle between the Former Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee, Commissioner of Police Mr. Seelall Persaud, the Police Service Commission and its Chairman over their promotion, I have decided to shed some light on this dark episode.
Policy and practice is that there is the sitting of two Promotion Boards following recommendations for promotions from the Divisions and Departments within the Force. The junior Promotion Board which comprises the Commissioner and his administration team inclusive of the Divisional Commanders and some Departmental Heads discuss and finalize promotions from Constable to Corporal and not beyond Sergeant. Similarly the senior Promotion Board should consist of the Commissioner, Head of Administration, Operations, Crime, Special Branch and some other Assistant Commissioners depending on their portfolios will deliberate on who should be promoted to Inspectors through to Assistant Commissioners and make recommendations to the Police Service Commission who has the final say.
It is expected that the Commissioner, Assistant Commissioners Administration and Operations along with the other Assistant Commissioners will make up that panel but that has not been the case since Seelall Persaud became Commissioner. It has only been the Top Three (Commissioner, Assistant Commissioners’ Administration and Operations) who have been dealing with recommendations for senior promotions.
The last promotion has left a sour taste in the mouth of many particularly within the Officer Corp. Supersession was the order of the day. Many were/are of the opinion that the supersessions were both uncalled for and unjustified. Some aggrieved ranks have laid the blame squarely at the feet of the top three, whilst officers blame the Police Service Commission. There is the belief that the last senior promotion (2014-2015) was not reflective of what was signed off on by the Police Service Commission. Word on the street is that there was a touch of political interference by former Minister Clement Rohee, his party comrades. And some very senior officers tampered with the list when it was sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs. As a result the promotion was delayed by three to four days but not a single member of the Police Service Commission has uttered anything to confirm or deny same.
The Police Service Commission for the second year running conducted interviews with ranks from Inspector to Senior Superintendents. Officers are being interviewed in order of seniority so it begs the question as to how they got it wrong last year and allowed a high number of supersession to take place. Many officers pointed out that they neither had disciplinary matters nor were sanctioned for poor performance yet they were superseded. Officers are questioning the objectivity of the Top Three and the Police Service Commission alike in deciding who is promoted and who is not and are calling for adherence to the Force Standing Orders and have a proper senior promotion board being convened. There is the general belief that it is developing into a situation of having square pegs in round holes because the person would have attained a rank due to favouritism/affiliation but he/she cannot function in the rank or appointment he/she holds or is appointed to.
With the ongoing ramblings and as officers await their promotions they should be made aware that the process was administered just like last year by the same Top Three with supersession again being the order of the day as is being revealed by the now holy than righteous Police Service Commission. Many officers have lost faith in the members of the Police Service Commission ability to correct the ills perpetuated at the 2014-2015 promotions and are of the belief that it is only because of a change of Government they are striving to show fairness and restore their credibility. Many are of the view that the Police Service Commission as demonstrated in their squabble with the Commissioner should seriously review the recommendations and justifications for every supersession forwarded to that body and be fair in signing off on the senior ranks promotions. It is not just the officers and other ranks who will suffer but the public at large from having a commander who is not worth his salt in their district.
Senior Police Officer
(name supplied)

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