Judge orders retroactive promotion of senior cop

On Monday in the Port of Spain High Court, Justice James Aboud ordered Williams to retroactively promote Persad from May 19, 2011.

Persad initiated judicial review proceedings against Williams in 2014 when he failed to promote him based on his placement on the merit list.

Persad contended that Williams’ decision was illegal, unlawful and in breach of his Constitutional rights.

When the matter came up in 2014, Aboud ordered that a place be reserved for Persad before any promotions were made.

While the matter was ongoing, Persad, who was acting in the position, was promoted to the substantive post in 2016.

However, Persad argued that his promotion ought to have been backdated to the time when he was placed on the merit list which was in 2011.

Aboud ordered the retroactive promotion in order to preserve Persad’s seniority and to ensure that he suffered no prejudice as a result of Williams’ failure to promote him.

Persad was represented by attorney Gerald Ramdeen while the State was represented by Neil Byam of the Solicitor General’s Office.