By Sue-Ann Wayow
GOVERNMENT has acted well within law as it relates to now former Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher whose contract officially ended on Thursday.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said on Thursday, “We have acted within the law. We have done nothing untoward illegally.”
The prime minister was answering questions from the media regarding the CoP’s situation this week during a post Cabinet media briefing in which the CoP’s suspension was lifted days before her contract ended but was again sent on leave.
Persad-Bissessar said, “We dealt with the cards that were played to us in the best interest of the country.”
She also said that as soon as the Police Service Commission (PolSC) can provide a list of prospective candidates for the top cop position, the list will be taken to Parliament to be discussed and determined.
That was what the government needed to do anyhow, as Harewood-Christopher contract had come to an end.
At the beginning of her address Persad-Bissessar mentioned, “We have approved the payment of unutilised vacation leave for former/present Commissioner of Police Erla Christopher Harewood.”
Attorney General John Jeremie, SC, also responded to media questions saying he could not give a figure for the payout just yet.
He said, “I am not certain in dollars and cents. I think she had like 60 something to 70 days leave inside.”
Harewood-Christopher was sent on 66 days vacation leave according to media release from the Ministry of Homeland Security on Wednesday.
The gain for government was greater than the leave payout which was stability, Jeremie said.
He said he was not worried if Harewood-Christopher decided to pursue the matter further legally.
Persad-Bissessar further said every citizen was entitled to seek legal redress and whether or not she does, government will deal with it accordingly.
Jeremie justified the government’s actions.
“The government did not think it made sense to have Ms Christopher report for duty for half of a day or one day and then to revert to her position if she was not extended. I don’t think that the mind of the government was to extend her.”
He added, “What we thought made more sense… remembering that we did not create this situation, this is a situation which we inherited… we felt it would be better for the police service to have a police commissioner in place throughout the period leading up to the new Parliament and that meant that Mr Benjamin as the person in the chair should continue.”
The AG was asked if Cabinet made a decision not to extend Harewood-Christopher’s contract.
He replied, “Her contract came to an end. Cabinet decided that the incumbent, the Police Commissioner who had been running the police service should be extended that’s Mr Benjamin.”
Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin has been acting in the position since February 6 following Harewood-Christopher’s arrest and suspension.
When asked how he felt about the entire situation, Jeremie responded, “The entire thing was shocking. A police commissioner being the subject of an arrest? That is something that is unusual.”
Harewood-Christopher was officially cleared of criminal charges related to the alleged importation of two high-powered sniper rifles for the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) last weekend.
