The appointment of Deputy Commissioner of Police Winston Felix as Commissioner of Police is being delayed by the absence of a Police Service Commission due to the political impasse between the PPP/C and the PNCR.
The deadlock has stymied the appointment of the parliamentary committee that is to consult on behalf of the parliament with the respective interest groups on the nominations to the Commissions.
The constitution requires the President to appoint the Commissioner of Police “after meaningful consultation with the Leader of the Opposition and the Chairperson of the Police Service Commission after the chairperson has consulted with the other members of the Commission”.
A number of other constitutional appointments including that of Director of Public Prosecutions and Deputy Director as well as appointments to the High Court cannot be made because of the non-appointment of the relevant commissions.
After consulting then Leader of the Opposition, the late Desmond Hoyte, President Bharrat Jagdeo tapped Felix to replace Commissioner of Police (ag) Floyd McDonald. He was chosen from five senior police officers who underwent special training in the United Kingdom and were each interviewed by the President.
During November the Social Partners and the parliamentary parties agreed to the appointment of Felix as Commissioner as part of the menu of measures that were to be implemented to address the challenges to the country’s security as a result of the wave of violent crime gripping the nation.
Sources close to the government have told Stabroek News that Felix’s appointment would only be made if, as a consequence of the doctrine of necessity the President makes the appointment in the absence of the commissions.
Others say too that the government could relieve McDonald of his acting appointment and have Felix carry out those functions until he could be formally appointed. President Jagdeo appointed McDonald to act when then Commissioner of Police Laurie Lewis retired. McDonald could not be appointed as he was past the retirement age and had been retained on contract at his substantive position as Deputy Commissioner of Police.
McDonald’s tenure has seen a rise in violent crime that has been sweeping the country following the February 23 prison breakout.