The Police Welfare Association (PWA) has expressed support for the appointment of Lincoln Corbette to the position of Acting Chief of Police. Following the extended leave embarked upon by Police Chief Daniel Carbon, the DLP administration appointed Corbette to his position in a acting capacity and appointed Superintendent Davidson Valerie as Acting Deputy Chief of Police.
PWA Chairman, Jefferson Drigo, congratulated Corbette and Valerie on their appointments and noted that they were PWA’s actual candidates for the positions. The association also thanked the government for “conceding to our recommendation” in the choice of Corbette and Valerie for the acting positions.
The executive and members of the Police Welfare Association would like to extend congratulations to Mr. Lincoln Corbette on being promoted to the rank of acting chief of police. Sir, we salute you and wish you all the best during your tenure in office.
Jefferson Drigo: PWA Chairman
The PWA also urged the new police top executives to provide a level playing ground devoid of victimization and tale-bearing and where promotion is critically dependent on criteria outlined in police regulations.
The police welfare association also urged the new police leaders to work for the return of several police activities which had not been marked in over 30 years – these include the Police Unit Band, Police J’ouvert Band, and the Police Calypso Show celebrated during the police week of activities.
In the same vein, Acting Police Chief Davidson Valerie has revealed that the police will embark on community policing so that law enforcement can be carried out in partnership with local citizens with a view to preventing crimes. To this end, police officers will initiate bonds with people in various communities so that crimes can be prevented instead of having to respond to them after they are committed.
However, the United Workers Party (UWP) has expressed disappointment with the appointment of Corbette and Valerie to their current positions and called for their removal. The opposition party said their appointments must be revoked since PM Roosevelt Skerrit and President Charles Savarin did not consult the UWP before the officers were appointed to acting positions.
The opposition said the prime minister and president failed to consult the opposition as stipulated in Section 92 (1) which states that:
“The power to appoint a person to hold or act in the office of Chief of Police or Deputy Chief of Police and, subject to the provisions of section 93 of this Constitution, the power to remove the Chief of Police or Deputy Chief of Police from office shall vest in the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, given after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition and the Police Service Commission.”
Opposition Leader Lennox Linton is asking that President Savarin “acknowledge that an unlawful and unconstitutional act was committed and that the appointments (of Corbette and Valerie) be revoked” and a meeting be convened with the UWP before new officer are appointed to the top police positions.
It will be recalled that in 2011, former Opposition Leader Hector John of the UWP had condemned the DLP for appointing Cyril Carrette as the Chief of Police and faulted the process of his appointment. Carrette was the predecessor of Carbon who is now on extended leave of absence.
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