By Sue-Ann Wayow
CHAIRMAN of the Police Service Commission (PSC) Bliss Seepersad has never served in an executive position for three years and her appointment is not illegitimate.
On Wednesday, President Paula-Mae Weekes sought to put to rest any doubt that Seepersad was not credible enough for the position.
In a press release, the Office of the President stated that it noted in an article in the Trinidad Express on Monday, remarks attributed to Opposition Senator Wade Mark querying the legitimacy.
Mark was quoted as saying, “I was shocked when I read that no one should be appointed as a Chairman of the Police Service Commission who had previously served for three years in a public office under the control of the Executive.”
The office stated, “To eliminate doubt, the Office of the President advises that Ms Seepersad was not a public officer within the definition and requirements prescribed by the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago at the time of either of her appointments as Chairman of the Police Service Commission nor at any time during her tenure (March 29, 2018 – March 28, 2021 and April 21, 2021 to present).”
The office clarified the definition of public office admitting that Seepersad was indeed the Chairman of the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) at the time she was first appointed as Chairman of the PSC.
According the Constitution the definition of public office states: “public office” means an office of emolument in the public service; “public service” means subject to the provisions of subsections (4) and (5), the service of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago … in a civil capacity.”
Subsections 4 and 5 include: (4) For the purposes of this Constitution, a person shall not be considered to hold an office in the public service by reason only that he is (inter alia) a person appointed on contract for a period not exceeding five years.
The Office stated that Seepersad was first appointed to the CDA on March 15, 2018 for a period of two years. She was subsequently reappointed to the CDA on March 31, 2020 but resigned on August 18, 2020.
“Therefore neither at the time of nor during her first appointment as Chairman of the Police Service Commission nor at the time of her second appointment was she a public officer,” the Office of the President stated.
A release from the Office of the President in May 21, stated, “Financial services and administration professional Bliss Seepersad was recently re-appointed Chairman of the Police Service Commission. Ms Seepersad was first appointed to the position in March 2018 and, her term of office having expired, was re-appointed by Her Excellency Paula-Mae Weekes O.R.T.T., President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on April 21 for another 3-year term.”
