The arrest, release, and subsequent suspension of Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher should have been better handled by the executive of the police service (TTPS).
This was stated by Secretary of the TTPS Social and Welfare Association (TTPSSWA) W-ASP Nathalie John in a press briefing which was held Wednesday at the Association’s office in Riverside Plaza in Port of Spain. At the time, John, who was supported by Association president ASP Gideon Dickson and vice president ASP Ishmael Pitt, read from a statement in which she made clear the TTPSSWA’s position.
“We believe the Commissioner of Police (CoP) is the highest rank in the TTPS and the office holder is expected to be one with high morals and ethics. The TTPSSWA believes at no time, the office of the CoP should be brought into disrepute and that all necessary protocols should be afforded to the office holder. With respect to the handling of the investigation, notwithstanding the aforesaid, no one is above the law…the Association holds the view that the manner in which the investigation unfolded in the public domain could have been better managed,” John said.
She also said the timing of the investigation had been noted by the organisation.
“Trinidad and Tobago is presently in a state of emergency which is being spearheaded by the office of the CoP, hence the association’s executive questions the timing of this matter being executed in the heights of this public crisis. Towards what end? This is the question we must ask. The Association is mindful that we live in a global village and episodes like this can have an acute negative impact on our country, on our organisation’s image, regionally and internationally, and threatens to erode the legitimacy of the organisation,” John said.
The event of the past few days, she stated, had led to the erosion of internal trust and confidence within the TTPS.
“This is of grave concern to us, and it must be restored immediately, through decisive leadership, effective communication, and transparency,” John said.