Newly-appointed director of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) attorney David West said one of his first objectives was to ensure the organisation has the legislative teeth to deal with pertinent matters, including extra-judicial killings. He made the comments while fielding questions from the media after he was sworn in at President’s House, St Ann’s, yesterday. The PCA’s deputy director Master Ralph Doyle was reappointed for another term.
“Just before I came in here I had a chance to meet briefly with Master Doyle and we agreed that legislation would be the number one priority to get to Cabinet so we can get those ‘teeth’ like what Barbados and Jamaica has,” West said.
On complaints by his predecessor, Gillian Lucky, about the lack of co-operation from the police in the timely submissions of files and other important documents, West said he first would have to meet with acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams. “My approach would be to meet with the acting Police Commissioner and develop some protocols on how we move forward in unison. “I don’t want any aggravation between the two bodies... we are all one, we are all one T&T,” he added.
West, the former head of the Central Authority, said he was honoured to be selected and thanked Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley for jointly recommending him. On what skills he would bring to the organisation, he listed those as his “communication skills and legal background.
“Also my law-enforcement background. I think I have the right mix in these departments. I have dealt with police officers before and I dealt with the public, so I think I have the right mix for the job,” West added. Asked if he was surprised to be selected, he said he was not as Lucky had told him she had recommended him. “I agreed to the recommendation so I was not surprised,” West added.
He said he intended to maintain a cordial relationship with the media and to hear the grievances of everyone. “I want the media to know I am approachable and I am also very independent and the office is independent and I will be vocal where I see it fit,” West said. Lucky resigned last month to become a High Court judge. Her resignation came on the heels of the resignation of Prof Ramesh Deosaran as head of the Police Service Commission.
Lucky had complained that because of the shortcomings in the legislative purview of the PCA, it was ineffective at handling some of the complaints it received. She had said there was a need to look at the criteria for evidence, including allowing the use of witness statements in their absence as a result of death or threats. Other measures she recommended included a 24-hour forensic science centre.