Trinidad’s police commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher arrested and detained

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Trinidad’s Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher has been “arrested and detained”, a senior police officer said Friday.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Suzette Martin told a news conference that the police commissioner had been arrested and detained along with the former director of the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) Major Roger Best “over the past few days.

“We understand that this has raised significant public concern and we are committed to providing as much information as possible while respecting the ongoing investigation,” Martin said.

The investigation is into the acquisition of two sniper rifles by the SSA.

In February 2023 the Trinidad Parliament unanimously approved the nomination of Erla Harewood-Christopher who was the Deputy Police Commissioner at the time, to become Trinidad and Tobago’s first female police commissioner.

All 36 members of the Parliament, who were present when the vote was taken following a short debate, voted in favor of appointing Christopher to the top post replacing Gary Griffith, whose three-year term expired  August 18, 2018. There are 41 members in Parliament and among those absent when the vote was taken was Opposition Leader, Kamla Persad Bissessar.

Griffith was among several candidates who had sought the position, but the Police Service Commission (PSC) said Harewood-Christopher had emerged as the top candidate for the post.