Police promotion list before PSC in two weeks

DEPUTY Police Commissioner Glen Roach yesterday assured that the list for promotions in the Second Division should be submitted to the Police Service Commission (PSC) in about two weeks. Roach said he was aware of the lack of morale in the service as a result of delays in promotion, but added the assessment committee should complete its work in two weeks’ time. May marked two years since promotions were made in the Police Second Division. The committee led by Roach was mandated to review the files of police officers of the Second Division who are eligible for promotion.

According to the Deputy Commissioner, the threats issued by police officers to take legal action resulted in the committee doing extra work to ensure that the files were reviewed carefully. “It will be submitted to the Police Service Commission and everything will rest in the hands of the PSC, when they see it fit to release the promotion list,” said Deputy Commissioner Roach. There are 303 vacancies for sergeants in the police service although it is understood that only 253 have passed the criteria set out for promotion. Seventy-seven sergeants are expected to be elevated to inspectors. Yesterday, Secretary of the Police Second Division Noel Chase said that officers of the Second Division are frustrated about the delays in promotion and they have every right to feel so that way.

He added that officers are now being asked to work harder, but are not motivated and coupled with that, are functioning in dilapidated police stations. According to Chase, the Port-of-Spain Divisional Headquarters is leaking, while the flooring at the Central Police Station has rotted and conditions at the Besson Street Police Station were untenable. He also noted that private properties where police stations are housed do not have back up generators and this was also a cause for concern. Chase noted that while police officers were prepared to give 100 percent to the job, the authorities need to ensure that they are motivated and given humane conditions to work under.