And while the commissioner can let that one slide, he can't pretend to
be Mr Nice Guy with
Corporal Eldon Arzu. The Corporal and the Commissioner have locked
horns over the leadership of the Police Association for over a year
now, and the fight continued this afternoon in the courtroom of Justice
Sonya Young.
Arzu is attempting to convince the presiding judge to grant him leave
to bring a judicial review claim against the Police Commissioner.
According to Arzu, the Commissioner failed to follow the rules of the
Police Association's election process. Arzu contends that the
Commissioner arbitrarily extended the nomination process, which allowed
for Sergeant Jane Usher and her team to enter elections, long after the
deadlines set by the Police Association's election rules. His attorney,
Nazira Myles, presented arguments on his behalf and attempted to
convince Justice Young to grant him leave.
Crown Counsel Agassi Finnegan from the Attorney General's Ministry
represented the Commissioner. She argued that the Commissioner's
decisions were justified and proper. From the ComPol's perspective,
Usher's team was the only one which had properly expressed interest.
The Commissioner is counter-claiming that it is Arzu and his slate who
missed the nomination deadlines.
As to the election delay, the Commissioner is also asserting that
coronavirus pandemic, which caused the entire country to enter a
lockdown for several months, also contributed significantly to the
postponement of the elections.
After about two hours of arguments from both sides, the judge adjourned
this matter until next Thursday afternoon. When she exited the court,
Arzu's attorney granted the press an interview:
Nazira Myles - Attorney For Corporal Arzu
"As you know, the matter started today in court. Arguments were made for
the application for permission to file the judicial review. I have made my
initial submissions, and the respondent, which is the Commissioner, is in
the process of responding. We now took a break today, where they will
continue to respond next week, which is the 16th at 1:30 p.m., And
thereafter, I will have an opportunity to respond to them."
Jules Vasquez
"What are you all expecting?"
Chester Williams - Commissioner of Police
"Well, the court will decide whether or not the claim I one that is
frivolous and vexatious, or if it is one that has merits and decide whether
it goes forward, or it's thrown out."
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