There is disquiet within the Port of Spain City Police over the renewal of contracts for three Senior officers, who are past the age of retirement.
The manner in which the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government went about issuing the contracts has also come into question. However, the Minister is standing by the process used.
00:00The contracts for the position of Assistant Commissioner of Police and two senior superintendent posts at the Port of Spain City Corporation were recently renewed by the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government.
00:12But it is causing concern among some officers for a few reasons, including the age of the senior officers.
00:18Within the TTPS, the age of retirement is 60, but with intervention, an officer can go up to 63 years, which is also said to be the cap under the TTPS's Special Reserve Returnee Policy.
00:31However, two of the officers who were reissued contracts for a two-year period are said to be 66 years old, while the other is 70 years old.
00:41That individual was offered a one-year contract.
00:43A source tells TV6 News that while the positions were advertised via the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development online portal, no recruitment exercise was undertaken, contrary to the usual process.
00:57There is a feeling among some that a move is unfair and even reeks of nepotism, as our source claims that one of the senior officers is related to a junior government minister.
01:08Some officers believe the situation is stymieing experienced officers from getting a chance to serve at a higher level.
01:15The issue has been reported to the TNT Police Service, Social and Welfare Association.
01:21As President Gideon Dixon says, it is not the first time such a complaint has been filed, and it is of concern.
01:27As such, we would have communicated to our attendees to look into this matter, because the age limit is an age limit that ought to be across the border.
01:44Dixon says the association will also be contacting local government minister Faris Al-Rawi.
01:49Because you would appreciate when things like this happen, it has a demoralizing effect on the officers who are looking forward to upward mobility within the ranks and files of an organization.
02:05In response, local government minister Faris Al-Rawi is refuting the allegations pertaining to nepotism in the extension of contract for the ACP.
02:13He refers to the claims as purist defamatory and meant to bring the name of the ACP into disrepute.
02:20Al-Rawi says a recruitment exercise took place in June of 2020, prior to the initial hiring of the ACP, who is said to have been the top scorer in the interview process, and a merit list was developed.
02:33He notes that it occurred before the junior minister, who the ACP is related to, took office.
02:38Al-Rawi states that in January of 2024, Cabinet gave approval for three-year retention contracts for the three senior officers in that division.
02:48And since the ACP and one of the senior superintendents assumed duty in April of 2024, serving for one year, the two-year contracts recently issued represent the balance of time remaining.
03:00The minister indicates that for municipal police, there is no age limit for retirement for contract positions.
03:07Al-Rawi says he stands by the process that was used.
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