00:00Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Besessa has announced that there will be a ceremonial opening of Parliament next week, Friday, May 23rd.
00:08The head of the government also confirmed that the House of Representatives will be debating the appointment of the top post in the Police Service
00:15as soon as it gets an order of merit list from the Police Service Commission.
00:19TV6 News received word of these two developments in brief responses from the Prime Minister to questions we sent on Wednesday.
00:26Regarding our query about the opening of Parliament, the Prime Minister said, quote,
00:32Yes, Friday, 23rd May, end quote.
00:35And given the most recent developments regarding the leadership of the Police Service,
00:39TV6 News sent another question to Prime Minister Passat-Besessa to find out if the House of Representatives will deal with that matter
00:46as soon as the lower house gets the Police Service's order of merit list from the President.
00:51The Prime Minister replied, quote,
00:54Yes, we follow the law, end quote.
00:56In recent years, the appointment or acting appointment of a Police Commissioner or Deputy Commissioners of Police
01:03was triggered by the Police Service Commission sending an order of merit list to the President
01:08who passes it on to the House of Representatives.
01:11The government then uses its majority to select the person or persons it favours.
01:16The Commission has yet officially confirmed whether it has an order of merit list for a new Commissioner of Police
01:23or a new acting top cop.
01:26Commissioner Harewood-Christopher was sent on accumulated vacation leave on Wednesday following her suspension in February of this year
01:33when she was being investigated for possible criminal charges of misbehaviour in public office.
01:39The DPP advised last Saturday that there were no criminal charges for her to answer
01:44and the High Court ruled on Monday that the Police Service Commission should reinstate Police Commissioner Harewood-Christopher to duty.
01:52As Commissioner Harewood-Christopher's term of office was due to expire,
01:55the Homeland Security Ministry said on Wednesday that it has taken advice from the Office of the Attorney General.
02:01The Homeland Security Ministry said that acting top cop Junior Benjamin, quote,
02:06was appointed to the post of Commissioner of Police Acting on February 6, 2025
02:10and it is understood that this appointment would continue until the Ministry has advised by the Police Service Commission
02:17of a change in this status.
02:19The Ministry has not been advised of a change in this status, end quote.
02:24The Homeland Security Ministry further said on Wednesday that, quote,
02:27Mrs. Erla Harewood-Christopher has accrued 66 days vacation leave
02:32and she has been informed to proceed on leave with effect from today, end quote.
02:37The Homeland Security Ministry said that the work of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service continues uninterrupted
02:44under the stewardship of Acting Police Commissioner Benjamin.
02:47The Ministry formally acknowledged and commended Mrs. Harewood-Christopher for what it said
02:52was her exemplary service spanning over four decades with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
02:58Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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