The Opposition United National Congress voted against the Constitution Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives on Friday.
The bill was seeking to amend the Constitution regarding the appointment of persons to act in the offices of Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police.
At present, the process commences with a list of persons nominated by the Police Service Commission, which is then submitted to the President.
Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who had signalled from the start her party’s intention to not support the bill, said the legislation omitted transparency and accountability in the selection of an Acting Commissioner of Police and an Acting Deputy Commissioner by removing Parliamentary oversight.
In a release following the sitting, she said: “It is a victory for democracy, as the Government was unable to secure the 2/3 votes needed to pass the Bill in the Lower House.”