Independent calls for more checks and balances in Police Bills

INDEPENDENT SENATOR, Prof Ken Ramchand, yesterday indicated that he would have no problem supporting the Police Reform Bills once the existing safeguards are further strengthened, with greater involvement of the President and Parliament in selecting members of the proposed Police Management Authority (PMA) which would replace the Police Service Commission (PSC). On Thursday, former President Sir Ellis Clarke (head of the technical team which drafted the controversial legislation) said while no new checks and balances were introduced, the Bills did not dilute or diminish any of the existing ones. Responding to comments made by Sir Ellis, Ramchand told Newsday he was not convinced that the existing safeguards to prevent possible abuse of power by either the Government or the police were sufficient.

He said under the Bills, members of the PMA would be appointed after agreement between the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, but if these two could not agree on any appointment, then the President would act on his own discretion and make the appointment. The Senator said he was concerned that no stipulated time period was given for the President to act in such situations. Moreover, Ramchand believed the President should have the final say on all appointments to the PMA, regardless of the situation. He suggested that the President could hold consultations with the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader on PMA appointments and also use the parliamentary joint select committee responsible for service commissions as “a search committee” for PMA members.

Ramchand said the Bills left  room for the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader to make a deal and history suggests that most politicians do not honour such agreements. Ramchand said he did not entirely agree with Sir Ellis that the PSC had not worked and believed that flaws in all service commissions should be rectified to ensure that they work properly instead of discarding them. The Senator said service commissions were still vital to preserve democracy in TT and this was why the nation’s first prime minister, Dr Eric Williams, agreed to increase their number in the country’s independence constitution.