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alexk
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The National Security Ministry under National Security Minister Edmund Dillon will now have to work out the terms and conditions for the contract for Police Commissioner-designate Gary Griffith, T&T Police Service and Government officials have confirmed.
However, since Griffith is not from the Police Service he will be a contracted officer - and his remuneration as Commissioner won’t be confined to the monthly salary of $31,080, plus perks which a Commissioner who comes from within the service ranks gets, officials noted.
The remuneration package for a Commissioner from within the TTPS, which involves a basic monthly salary of $31,080 plus allowances and perks, is detailed in recommendations for the post in the 98th report of the Salaries Review Commission (2013).
The SRC has confirmed the package hasn’t changed.
How long Griffith’s contract will be for, the salary level plus other remuneration, as well as full terms and conditions, will be in the National Security Ministry’s jurisdiction to decide, but could fall in the $60,000-plus region, the T&T Guardian was told.
Government officials added that while the Police Service Commission handled the selection process for a CoP, the ministry is the employer of a commissioner and holds responsibility for handling the contract. The PSC, which handled the selection process, isn’t involved in the contracting/negotiation aspect at all, they added.
Only when the ministry agrees on terms and conditions for the designate and he’s ready to be appointed will the PSC then prepare the instruments of appointment and the current outgoing acting CoP will also get instruments to demit office.
Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams, who came up the TTPS ranks, has served until retirement age and is due to retire on September 19 but will go on pre-retirement leave soon.
Former Commissioner Canadian-born Dwayne Gibbs, who preceded Williams, was sourced externally and had a multi-million dollar three-year contract from September 2010. So did his colleague and compatriot Deputy Commissioner Jack Ewatski.
Gibbs’ contract allowed a monthly salary of $125,000, plus perks – with an immediate termination clause for non-performance. Ewatski also negotiated a package with the People’s Partnership administration. However, then acting Police Commissioner James Philbert’s monthly salary was an estimated $31,000.
After open dissatisfaction expressed by then-PP National Security Minister Jack Warner about performance, Gibbs and Ewatski quit in 2012 with more than a year to go on their contracts. Williams has acted since.
If Griffith gets a three-year contract like Gibbs, that will run to 2021.
WHAT 98TH SRC REPORT SAYS ON COP SALARY
• Salary: $31,080 per month.
• Transport Facilities: (i) An official car fully maintained by the State and provision of an official driver.
(ii) A maximum loan of $250,000 at a rate of interest of 6 per cent per annum repayable over a period of six (6) years to facilitate the purchase of either:
(a) a new motor vehicle with exemption from Motor Vehicle Tax limited to the amount payable on a vehicle with an engine capacity of 1999cc and exemption from Value Added Tax to a maximum of $45,000; or
(b) a used motor vehicle with exemption from Special Motor Vehicle Tax limited to the maximum amount payable in respect of Motor Vehicle Tax on a vehicle at (a) above and exemption from Value Added Tax to a maximum of $45,000.
(iii) A loan to cover the cost of Motor Vehicle Insurance premium at a rate of interest of 6 per cent per annum.
(iv) A maximum loan of $20,000 at a rate of interest of 6% per annum to effect repairs to a motor vehicle.
(v) A Transportation Allowance of $3,900 per month.
(vi) A Special Depreciation Allowance for installation of a telecommunication unit in the office holder’s motor vehicle at the rate of 2.2 per cent of the showroom price of the vehicle; such showroom price to be subject to the maximum sum that may be advanced towards the purchase of the appropriate motor vehicle.
• Subsistence Allowance
(i)$200 per day when travelling on official business beyond a radius of 16 kilometres from official headquarters, and where it is necessary to purchase a meal(s).
(ii) When on duty in Tobago, the office holder to be eligible for hotel accommodation and meals, as necessary. In the absence of the provision of any meal(s), to be paid $200 per day.
(iii) For travel abroad on official business, the provisions of Minister of Finance Circular No. 2 dated April 7, 2006, or other relevant Circular to apply.
• Housing: Official residence fully furnished and maintained by the State. An allowance of $7,740 per month to be provided where the official residence is not available and suitable alternative arrangements have not been made.
• Entertainment: Actual expenses incurred for official entertainment to be met from an official Entertainment Vote under the control of the Commissioner of Police.
• Vacation Leave: Thirty (30) calendar days per annum.
• Telecommunication Facilities: $500 per month.
• Duty Allowance: $3,110 per month.
• Uniform: Provision of uniforms, free of charge.
• Medical Benefits: Entitlement to medical attention/treatment, dental and optical treatment and prescribed drugs for self at any health care facility under the Regional Health Authorities, including the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex. Where such attention/treatment is not available at such health care facility, the office holder to be entitled to have the costs met at any other hospital, institution or nursing home in Trinidad and Tobago. (‘Prescribed drugs’ exclude drugs which are obtainable without a prescription.)
• Pension/Gratuity: Entitlement to superannuation benefits in accordance with the provisions of Part XV of the Police Service Regulations, 2007.