The Motion to approve Junior Benjamin as the Acting Commissioner of Police and Curt Simon as Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police was approved by the Lower House after a brief debate on Wednesday.
As he moved the Motion in the House of Representatives relating to the Acting appointments of Mr. Benjamin and Mr. Simon, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley reiterated that the appointment of an Acting Commissioner of Police is solely the responsibility of the Police Service Commission (PSC) and not the Government.
He emphasised that the Commission, as the Constitutional authority, made the recommendation to President Christine Kangaloo without Government involvement.
The appointments follow the Commission’s decision to direct Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher to cease reporting for duty amid an ongoing investigation.
Dr. Rowley also stressed that the Government has no influence over police investigations or operational decisions.
“I want to make it very clear to everybody in this country, on this day, on this occasion, the Government is simply discharging its responsibility for the Police Service Commission to make the appointment that they want to make, that they recommended to make.”
The Prime Minister added that he has not seen the Merit List from the Police Service Commission, which includes other potential nominees.
“And therefore, when the Police Service Commission comes and says that they have chosen Mr. Benjamin because he’s at the top of some list, they know that. I don’t know that. I have nothing to put me in a position to know that. But I’m saying, because the law, the Constitution, requires that the Police Service Commission holds that authority to make an appointment, I have to assume today, I have to assume today that the recommendation made by the Police Service Commission is worthy of support.”
Member of Parliament for Oropouche East, Dr. Roodal Moonilal, raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding the vacancy and questioned whether proper procedures were followed.
“We are compelled to tell Mr. Benjamin, please conduct yourself in this office with the utmost fairness, transparency, impartiality.”
Prime Minister Rowley also made it clear that the Government has no role in directing police investigations or influencing appointments. He added that the Government was informed of the decision by the Commission when it was made public.