Is it time to show what a foreign Commish can do?

My colleague, Christian, has opened our discussion about the brewing discontent with the possibility of T&T having its first Commissioner of Police of non-T&T nationality.  I'm largely in agreement with him, and, driven by some comments observed in other online forums, would like to add my views.

In one of the other forums, a Trinbagonian criminologist (who contributed much to the discussion) suggested that the Police Service Social and Welfare Association (PSSWA) has a valid point: change should come from within, since there's no police service in the world that has had long-term structural and cultural change by injecting a foreigner.  Since I am not in that field and don't have facts to support an alternative position, I can't disagree with her about the 'long-term' statement.  However, I wish to challenge her 'change from within' conclusion.

I think change in the T&T Police Service (TTPS) has to be supported by the officers, but whether it originates from within or without shouldn't matter.  The nationality of a leader shouldn't be more important than her competencies.  Which is why, like Christian, I cannot support opposing a candidate just because of their nationality.

In T&T the love of foreign things and people seems to be situational: we don't mind paying for foreign products, services or entertainment, as long as we don't produce a clearly competitive product, service or candidate here.  Thus, we love Beyonce, but seem to hate the Chinese construction labourer.  In this case it seems to lead to an interesting conflict.

Consider this: why should it be possible for the Trinbagonian candidate to get positive scores for overseas training, but the Canadian candidate to get negative points for his nationality to such an extent that it overrules his overseas training and experience?  For this is what the PSSWA implies when it asks the Prime Minister to use her veto to ensure a Trinbagonian is selected no matter what the Police Service Commission recommends.

Some folks say local experience has overriding importance.  I question that, since I believe the decisions of the CoP will be taken after consultation with his team, who are all likely to be Trinbagonians.  Thus, he should have ample opportunity to be apprised of any local issues that are relevant.  Apart from that, the lead Canadian candidate has experience in another Caribbean island; so he's not coming to the role as a complete neophyte to the Caribbean way of doing things.

I suppose my experience of working abroad has me biased. I've worked on successful projects with people from over 20 different countries; the nationality of my leaders or colleagues just didn't matter.  When we want results, what matters are the knowledge and skills we bring to bear.  If the employment process allows foreign candidates to apply, then it's a bit late for the PSSWA to complain now.  Mind you, the PSSWA, through its President (Mr Emrol Bruce), had this position for a long time - I can find news reports about it from 2008.  This raises the question of whether the PSSWA have been lobbying for changes to the CoP selection process over the past few years; perhaps they have been, but were unsuccessful and have thus resorted to their current actions.

I think the PSSWA should devote their efforts to preparing their members for the possibility of being led by a foreigner.  They should adopt a more neutral, if not positive, public stance that leaves no room for police officers to withhold support just because the new CoP is a foreigner.  When they say that 'there would be some level of resistance', I find that disturbing as a member of the public: will that resistance impact significantly on future crime-fighting initiatives?

I also find it illogical that the rank and file should be disillusioned because they would think that they may not be able to become the CoP one day because a foreigner has applied, simply because it is mathematically impossible for most of them to achieve that goal.  However, I accept that some of them may hold that view, including the new CoP's own team of senior officers.  Hopefully, the foreign CoP candidates would have been asked probing questions during their interviews about how they would manage effectively if the expected support isn't forthcoming, and the leading candidates would've given some good answers.

Once the PSSWA have evidence that the foreign CoP's effectiveness was hindered by his nationality, then they will have solid ground to ask for the CoP selection process to be changed.  At this point, I find their arguments unconvincing.  We've had local CoPs since, what, the fifties? Apart from the legendary reputation of the late Randolph Burroughs, I can't recall many who were held in high esteem by the public.  To the latter, the only thing that matters is the CoP's ability to improve/maintain effective policing.  It is a bit tough for the public to support any 'resistance' to an option they feel may improve TTPS performance.

I think that if the PSC-managed selection process was rigorous, then Parliament should automatically appoint the top-rated candidate as CoP.  If that person isn't a Trinbagonian, then appoint the top-rated Trinbagonian candidate as Deputy Commissioner with a view to affording him/her the best chance of being the top candidate in the next selection process.  It may mitigate any potential discontent.