(Trinidad Express) – The Police Service Commission has recommended Canadian Neal Parker as the front runner for the post of Police Commissioner, according to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Parker, a retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Deputy Commissioner of Police in Antigua and Barbuda was selected from among the applicants, and was short listed by Penn State University, which was contracted to review those who applied for the post.
Speaking following the swearing in ceremony of Minister in the Ministry of National Security Subhas Panday at Knowsley Building in Port of Spain, Persad-Bissessar said, “As you know the recommendation for the Commissioner of Police, I am advised is a Canadian who has worked in the Caribbean I believe in St Lucia and elsewhere. So that is a matter that will come up for debate immediately and as a Cabinet we took note of it today. But we will hold a further caucus on the issue to determine the way forward. I do not have all the details in terms of the process that was followed.”
She said, “A lot of the factors will be administrative factors. There is a matter that will be laid in the Parliament, which you are aware of which is the order from his Excellency the President with the nomination for the person to be the Commissioner of Police and a Deputy Commissioner of Police.”
She said the government would meet with various branches of the Police Service and the various departments including Second Division officers to get their views before the parliamentarians make their final decision on the matter when it comes up for the debate.
“I believe the Commissioner of Police’s (James Philbert) term would expire on June 30, so there is some urgency in dealing with that matter, so that is going to be tabled tomorrow after the Parliament is convened.”
