Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi has commended Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams for invoking his power under the Constitution to discipline his charges.
Williams has faced criticism by some quarters and threats of legal action after it was made public that he informed Snr Supts Simbonath Rajkumar and John Trim that their services were being considered for termination under the Police Service Act for their non-performance.
Interviewed by reporters following the opening of the multi-million dollar Movie Towne South cineplex at C3 Centre at Corinth Road, San Fernando on Monday, Al-Rawi said: “I absolutely agree with the Commissioner of Police initiatives that is what the Constitution was amended to do by Act 6 of 2006. The
Commissioner of Police in Sec 1 (23) A of the Constitution was given the power to manage the Police Service. The management includes discipline in accordance with the Police Service Act and it is high time that there is a hands on management approach to this issue.
“As I just told you in context $21 billion over ten years (spent on the Police Service) is a lot of money. It is not a Minister of National Security that could arrest someone, it is the T&T Police Service and I want to comment the police officers of the First and Second Division for grabbing on to this cause because a number of very competent and capable officers can shine in this process.”
However, Al-Rawi said there is due process and the law must be applied with fairness and equity. “I expect that would be the case,” he said.
Williams who also has the backing of National Security Minister Edmund Dillon said the officers had seven days to respond and their attorneys have responded on their behalf. He said he would make a decision after reading their response.
The officers’ attorney Gerald Ramdeen had said that while the force retirement was not illegal it was a breach of the Police Service Act.
Rajkumar and Trim have been given an extension until Friday to state why they should not be considered for early retirement from the Police Service.
The two men are seeking to continue their service until the statutory date of retirement, which under the Police Service Act is 60 years.