By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

QUESTIONS are being raised over whether there is government interference in determining who is promoted as part of the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s expected promotion exercises.

Police Staff Association (PSA) Chairman Dwight Smith told The Tribune when contacted yesterday that he sent a letter to Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade last week in which he asked about the matter.

He said he took that action because he has continuously had to respond to disillusioned police officers asking questions about the force’s long promised promotion announcements.

When asked about the matter a couple of months ago, State Minister for National Security Keith Bell told The Tribune promotions would be announced “soon.” However, since then no announcement has been made.

The biggest concern, Mr Smith said, is that political interference may result in undeserving people being promoted while deserving ones are taken off the list, a problem all the more concerning as the country struggles to curb the rate of violent crime.

“Promotion exercises have been going on from the ending part of last year to this year,” Mr Smith said. “We feel the commissioner did all that he could in making sure the right candidates were chosen. It is therefore beyond us why promotions haven’t been made as yet. It’s making officers feel uncomfortable. We’ve sent a letter last week to the commissioner about whether there is political interference and it’s not the first time concerns were raised.”

Acknowledging that he doesn’t expect the commissioner to give him a direct answer on the matter, Mr Smith said rumours of interference are rampant throughout the police force, resulting in officers having low morale.

“Imagine a young police officer making $1,500 a month,” he said. “They have not seen an increase for the past 13 years. What is there now to motivate a police officer, other than his own patriotic views in wanting to work in the police force to keep the country crime free? The only motivation for officers is promotion so he must feel encouraged that he has achieved and is doing well. Promotion is a big issue for police officers.”

Mr Smith claimed that promotion exercises were completed in April.

Typically, he said, a selection board chooses candidates for a promotion from a list of people who apply. A promotion board interviews those selected, and then ratifies the list. Ultimately, the commissioner determines who should be eliminated from the list, who should remain and who should be added.

Promotion exercises only take place when the government sanctions them by committing to providing the necessary funding to facilitate the promotion of some officers.

In the past, the issue of political interference in promotions has been a controversial one.

During a hearing of the House of Assembly’s Select Committee on crime in 2008, then Acting Commissioner of Police Reginald Ferguson revealed that promotions had taken place in the past without the sanction or recommendation of the country’s police chief.

He said such an action causes a “negative vibe” with the police force as it had the potential to undermine and demoralise the organisation.

When contacted for comment yesterday, FNM Chairman Darron Cash criticised the Christie administration for the delay in promotion announcements.

“From the ‘ready on day one’ re-engagement of previously retired senior police officers, to the total lack of coordination between the prime minister, his two ministers (of national security) and the commissioner, order and good discipline have been seriously undermined. “Prime Minister Christie is ultimately to blame, but it does not help that far too many key officers have conflicting loyalties due to the appearance of four police forces: PM Christie’s, (Junior) Minister Keith Bell’s, Minister Bernard Nottage’s and the commissioner’s.”

Added Mr Cash: “After two plus years of dysfunctional leadership we do hope that the men and women of the force see that the FNM’s approach to a well structured and well managed force sets us apart from the PLP regime of kisses go by favour. Under the FNM not every one got the promotion they wanted, when they wanted it, but under our approach the process was strategic, fair, well organised and filled with integrity.”