Parliament has approved the recommendation of Dr Maria Therese Gomes to the post of chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC).
She had been recommended by President Anthony Carmona last December to replace Prof Ramesh Deosaran.
Deosaran resigned last year in apparent frustration over the failure of government to amend the legislation to make the appointment of a Police Commissioner and other senior officers less cumbersome.
Debate on the issue concluded around 12.45 am yesterday after the Parliament dealt with a number of other matters. The session began at 1.30 pm on Wednesday.
Among the issues debated were amendments to legislation on the protection of children, including the adoption of children.
Gomes is expected to be sworn in as PSC chairman following yesterday’s parliamentary approval of her nomination.
The approval of the new chairman comes just days ahead of the PSC’s latest assessment of acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams, whose latest acting stint expires on January 31. This is Williams’ fifth assessment and the PSC would decide whether to grant a further extension or put someone else to act in the top cop’s post.
Gomes, a sociologist and behavioural scientist, joins other PSC members Martin George, Roamar Achat-Saney and James Armstrong.
A lawsuit, filed by former head of the public service Reginald Dumas challenging the appointment of Achat-Saney and Armstrong, on the basis they did not have the qualifications and experience in the disciplines of law, sociology, management or finance, to be appointed by the President, is still pending before the High Court.
No confidence motion
Parliament sits again today to deal with private members’ matters, including a motion by Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner calling for the House to express its loss of confidence in Finance Minister Larry Howai and to have the Prime Minister revoke his appointment.
The motion notes that Howai was CEO of state-owned First Citizens bank during 2006 to 2009 when a loan was granted to build Carlton Savannah Hotel, St Ann’s.
The motion claims that Howai’s conduct in his previous capacity as CEO of the bank has eroded the confidence of the public in the his ability to administer over the finances of the nation in the best interest of the public.