PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — A high-stakes investigation into suspended Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher’s alleged role in the procurement of two sniper rifles has plunged the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) into a leadership crisis, with senior officials refusing to comment on the probe amid escalating legal and political tensions.
The controversy, which has dominated national headlines, reached a boiling point this week as Deputy Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin, the nominee for acting commissioner, stonewalled questions during a Monday press briefing, urging “time and space” for investigators. His remarks came hours before Parliament convened to formalize his interim appointment, following Harewood-Christopher’s suspension by the Police Service Commission (PolSC) last week.
Probe into Commissioner’s Alleged Role in Rifle Procurement
The PolSC, chaired by Dr. Wendell Wallace, suspended Harewood-Christopher pending an internal TTPS investigation into her oversight of the sniper rifle acquisition. While details remain sparse, the probe has raised questions about procurement protocols and accountability within the TTPS, long scrutinized for operational transparency.
Deputy Commissioner Suzette Martin, tasked with leading the inquiry, has not disclosed a timeline for its conclusion. Benjamin, when pressed on the matter, deferred to Martin, stating, “We want to be very careful in terms of saying anything further.”
Legal Showdown Looms
Harewood-Christopher’s attorney, Pamela Elder SC, has threatened legal action unless the PolSC revokes her client’s suspension by 2 p.m. Tuesday. Elder argues the suspension lacks due process, though the PolSC has yet to publicly respond. Legal analysts suggest the case could test the boundaries of the commission’s authority under Trinidadian law.
Leadership Vacuum and Parliamentary Action
With Harewood-Christopher sidelined, Benjamin—the TTPS’s most senior deputy commissioner—is poised to assume the role of acting commissioner following a parliamentary vote Wednesday. His nomination by the PolSC underscores the urgency to stabilize the TTPS, even as critics question the optics of a senior officer investigating his potential predecessor.
“We have always been one team,” Benjamin said, dismissing concerns about conflicts of interest. “The TTPS remains focused on the task ahead… committed to standing tall amid challenges.”
Deputy Commissioner’s Sermon Sparks Questions
Benjamin also addressed a viral video from August 2024 showing him delivering a church sermon while wearing a bulletproof vest. He clarified the vest was part of an “illustrated sermon” on spiritual preparedness, not a routine security measure. “I don’t wear it every Sunday,” he quipped, though the imagery reignited debates about public perception of crime and police readiness.
In the same sermon, Benjamin openly aspired to lead the TTPS, stating, “These affirmations helped me reach where I am now.” His remarks, now under renewed scrutiny, highlight the charged atmosphere within the agency.
Internal Tensions and Public Trust
The investigation has strained morale within the TTPS, which faces endemic challenges including rising violent crime and resource shortages. Benjamin insisted officers remain “resilient,” but rank-and-file members privately express frustration over the leadership turmoil.
“This scandal couldn’t come at a worse time,” said a veteran detective, speaking anonymously. “The public’s trust is already fragile.”
As Parliament moves to install Benjamin, all eyes are on the TTPS’s ability to navigate the twin crises of internal governance and external credibility. For now, the force’s motto— “To Protect and Serve with Pride”—faces its sternest test.
