The first things that newly-elected president of the Police Service Social and Welfare Association, Insp Micheal Seales, will address are houses for police officers, job evaluations and absorption of Special Reserved Police (SRP) officers.
Seales told the T&T Guardian that in a telephone interview hours after he and his slate— Police Empowerment Party (PEP)—won each seat they contested.
Seales, who was charged with making a seditious statement mere days before Monday’s elections, said he now has a greater faith in God and will lead the association with that new found strength in the Lord.
“It has been mixed emotions, a roller coaster ride from low last week to high this week. It has also re-enforced my faith in the Lord. I want to show my gratitude to the membership. They stayed with me through a lot. It was a troubling time,” Seales said.
While Seales will be focusing on securing homes for his members and fellow officers, the top two losing slates are still questioning his validity to run the police association while as a suspended police officer with a criminal charge against him.
In a telephone interview, runner-up for the post of president, Insp Richard Taylor, from the slate Vanguards, said Seales’ predicament could have a negative impact on the Police Service.
“He is before the court for a criminal matter and is representing a law body. The public will view us in a particular way. It will not augur too well with us in terms of how the public will view us.
“We want to ask the public with regards to Seales on suspension and leading the organisation, we know the public will have a particular perception of us. We are hoping that they will not paint us with the same broad brush,” Richards said.
Second runner-up for the top post, Cpl Darlington Francis, of Police For Police, after congratulating Seales on his victory also raised the issue that he was a suspended police officer leading a police association.
Francis said: “I am very concerned that he may not be able to serve his third term because the Police Commissioner can only second an officer to the Police Association if he is an active member of the service. It was okay while he was an active member and then suspended.
“The commissioner, as far as I am aware does not have any power to second a suspended member of the Police Service. There is a legal problem there. I don't know how to fix it but I don't see how Seales will serve as president. We have a governance crisis.” He added he would be seeking legal advice on the matter.
In response to the claims, Seales said it was clear there was some misconception regarding the rules of the association and it was unfortunate that some did not know that.
He said the association was separate from the service and once you were a paying member of the association you could ascend to any position available.
Seales legitimacy to challenge for the top post was sanctioned after president of the election committee, Sgt Toolah Julien, sought legal advice from a labour attorney and was given the go ahead.
Julien told the T&T Guardian he first raised the issue with acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams who advised him to seek legal advice, which allowed Seales to contest the elections.
Julien added that the issue raised concerning Seales being a suspended police officer in charge of the police association was another matter that would need further legal advise.
He admitted that it was one of the highest voter turnouts with team PEP winning every post it contested. (JLV)
The results
Team Pep
President: Insp Michael Seales: 785 votes.
Vice-president: Superintendent Richard Corbette: 716 votes.
General secretary: Insp Anand Ramesar: 787 votes.
Team Vanguards
President: Insp Richard Taylor: 616 votes.
Vice-president: Insp Shawn Sookram: 445 votes.
General secretary: Insp Wendell Lucas: 578.
Team Police for Police
President: Cpl Darlington Francis: 194.
Vice-president: Cpl Ricardo Nicome: 173.
General secretary: Cpl Sheldon Narine: 188.
Team Reformers
President: Sgt Junior Marcel: 186.
Vice-president: Insp Roger Alexander: 301.
General secretary: Cpl Ramoutar: 207.