Senate votes against UNC motion to annul COP selection process order

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Senate votes against UNC motion to annul COP selection process order

Defeated!
That’s what happened to the United National Congress’ motion in the Senate on Monday, which sought an annulment of the Commissioner of Police (CoP) and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (Selection Process) Order, 2021.

The private motion was filed by Opposition Senator Wade Mark.

However, when the motion was put to a vote in the Senate, all nine Independent senators joined the 14 government senators present to defeat the motion by a margin of 23 to six.

All six opposition senators present voted for the motion.

In his argument, Mark repeated the allegation that there was a conspiracy against incumbent CoP Gary Griffith.
He asked “Is the Government seeking to remove the current sitting CoP and put someone else?” “We (UNC) support the the current CoP. You (Government) are not going to take us for a ride.”

Mark demanded that the Police Service Commission (PSC) make a public statement as to whether it supported the CoP/DCP Order 2021 or whether it was only the Government that supported it.

Government stated last month that the process of selecting a commissioner and three deputies will be shortened by removing the mandate to advertise the post internationally.

The new constitutional provision also allows the commission to submit to the President a list of suitable candidates from among the ranks, including anyone on contract or who had been previously employed on contract, to be nominated to act as commissioner and/or deputy, pending the appointment of a substantive office-holder.

Police Commissioner Gary Griffith’s contract ends in August and he said he will be reapplying for the position.

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