Last week, the CIC and other NGOs held a meeting on crime at the end of which a resolution was published. The resolution made recommendations to the government in the implementation of its 10-point crime-fighting plan and called for the replacement of Permanent Secretary in the Minister of National Secretary and also called for the immediate appointment of a COP “from outside the country”.
Prime Minister Douglas spoke to the issue on Tuesday, 24th May, 2011, during his “Ask the PM” radio programme and indicated that by calling for the PS to be replaced and in calling for the immediate appointment of an overseas COP, the NGOs overstepped their bounds and exhibited poor judgment.
“They seem to have disregarded totally the governance that exists within the civil service system. We will assume that there was no malice intended but that this was simply the result of poor judgment. In addition, I must make it clear that it is not the intention of this government to deliberately exclude any national from any post in this country especially a post within the police force, especially one as important as the leadership of a national security agency.
“We believe in finding the best possible individual for the position in question and the person who can best protect the interest of this nation – whether from the federation or from further afield. So here again we seek the recommendation that a local not be given the leadership of the police force as yet another instance of poor judgment on the part of these organisations.”
Prime Minister Douglas expressed, however, his government’s forward thrust in devising ways and means of combatting crime, an exercise which he invited members of the public to involve themselves in.
“Nonetheless, we in the government, move forward, we move forward, committed to execute the task that we were elected to do and are being paid to do, that is to provide sound judgment in depth analysis and proper policy formulation in the defence of our country. That having been said, let me send yet another appeal to all individual and to all organisations to join us, join us in a spirit of positive collaboration. We urge you to step forward and we urge you to share, share with us all detailed plans of what you are ready, willing and able to do to defeat crime in this blessed land of ours.”