NEWLY appointed chairman of the Police Service Commission, Assistant Police Commissioner Paul Slowe said that indiscipline of ranks in the Force will be dealt with in a condign manner as the process will be smooth and efficient.

Other commissioners appointed on Thursday at State House before President Granger were retired assistant commissioner Conway, Vesta Adams and Claire Jarvis along with Public Service Commission Chairman, Attorney Michael Sommersal.

“We have to look at the constitutional mandate and promotions and discipline and those are very important especially discipline. The system when I was there, we had lots of issues with the whole process because as you know the Constitution dictates that the disciplining of ranks from inspector to assistant commissioner is the duty of the Service Commission but for a number of years, we have had issues up to when I left and I suspect they have continued. There are matters there pending for unduly long periods of time and justice delayed is justice denied”, Slowe said.

Adding that the Commission intends to focus on several issues, but primarily give extra attention to the issues of promotion and discipline, the Chairman said the body will be meeting soon to look at the issue of an appointment of a substantive Commissioner of Police.

Underscoring the qualities he would be looking for in the next Commissioner of Police, Slowe said it would have to start with a consultation and it will definitely be someone who is competent and can command the respect of the Force and the public.
When questioned about recent comments from Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo that he should not be chairman of the commission since he has a lot of baggage, Slowe said it is what’s in the baggage that is important. “Well I don’t want to say much about it, but I do have baggage but it’s what is in the baggage that is the important thing. The baggage contains discipline, it contains professionalism, it contains measures to deal with corruption, so forget about the baggage part and examine what’s inside and that’s what I am interested in,” he said.