Move for promotions based on performance

Members of the Police Service Commission and members of the police executive met yesterday in the first of a series of meetings to discuss promotions, discipline, recruitment, selection process and performance appraisal. At the end of the meeting, PSC chairman Christopher Thomas and Police Commissioner Trevor Paul held a press briefing. Paul said the meeting was successful and it was decided that police officers who go beyond the call of duty would soon be promoted based on merit and performance. Several sergeants and corporals are expected to be elevated to the next higher rank shortly. Paul said the PSC had promised to speed up the promotion process, adding it was his intention to boost the morale of every police officer under his command.

The commissioner said he was concerned about the spate of crimes in the country and once again, assured that every effort was being made to deal with the lawlessness. The top cop dispelled concerns that police officers who are on leave were called out on Wednesday due to a planned State of Emergency. He said the reason for calling out the officers on leave was to increase the strength of the Police Service, so that more manpower could be available to deal with the crime situation. The PSC chairman said he was pleased with the outcome of the meeting and added that a body would soon be set up to ensure that the concerns of the police were addressed. He said while he did not wish to place blame on how the PSC ran its affairs in the past, he feels that more dialogue was needed and the PSC and police executive need to have a closer relationship in the interest of the Police Service.