A high-level meeting is expected to take place today amid questions over who is formally leading the T&T Police Service.
According to a T&T Express report, Deputy Police Commissioner Junior Benjamin said he has not received a formal instrument appointing him to act as Police Commissioner, although he is currently the most senior officer in the TTPS.
Mr Benjamin said such arrangements have occurred before, but declined further comment ahead of today’s meeting.
The issue follows questions from PNM Chairman Marvin Gonzales about the whereabouts of current Commissioner Allister Guevarro and whether an acting Commissioner has been appointed.
Meanwhile, former Police Commissioner Gary Griffith is describing a flaw in the law governing the appointment of an acting Police Commissioner.
Mr Griffith says the current law requires Parliament to approve an acting appointment whenever the Commissioner is unavailable, even for a short period.
This, he says, can create a leadership gap in the TTPS, particularly when Parliament is not sitting.
Mr Griffith is calling for the law to be changed.
Former Police Commissioner Gary Griffith.
