Last minute injunction granted:

IN a late night judgement yesterday, the Port-of-Spain High Court blocked today’s promotion of 302 police constables to the rank of corporal.

This action was taken pending a judicial review of complaints made by other constables that they had been bypassed for promotion for that same post.

The injunction was granted by Justice Carol Gobin following a hearing at the Hall of Justice with attorneys for the disgruntled officers, Om Lalla and Kelvin Ramkissoon. The attorneys entered at 6 pm and emerged two hours later to inform their clients, who had been waiting patiently on the steps of the Hall of Justice, that the court had ruled in their favour. This news evoked lusty cheers from the assembled officers.

Lalla told journalists that the court had granted an injunction preventing acting Police Commissioner Glen Roach from handing out promotion letters to the 302 constables at the Police Administration Building in Port-of-Spain today.

Lalla said the relevant documents would be served to Roach sometime today and the matter will come up for hearing in the High Court on Wednesday.

He declined to comment further, stating that the matter was sub-judicie. Attempts to contact Roach for comment last night were unsuccessful.

Over 500 disgruntled police officers had threatened to take legal action against Police Commissioner Trevor Paul and the Police Service Commission.

Some police officers told Newsday they did not agree with the new merit promotion system and had vowed to take the matter to court.

Confirmed letters were sent out on May 22 to 302 police officers who had been selected for promotion.

Promotions are to be based on fitness, academic qualifications, performance appraisals, commendations, service, and disciplinary record, in accordance with Section 15(2) of the Police Service Commission (Amendment) Regulations, 1995.

However, Section 20, states that when considering officers for promotion, the commissioner shall take into account the experience, merit, ability, the educational qualifications and the relative efficiency of such officers.

The officers claim that the law does not state it is a merit system and the commissioner is taking the law word for word.

The officers said they were disenchanted and warned that their lack of enthusiasm for their jobs may mean the public will be affected.

Police officers with more than 25 years of service were bypassed for promotion.

President of the Police Social Welfare Division, Second Division, Cedric Neptune could not be reached for comment.