KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Democratic Movement (NDM) said it is surprised, disappointed and concerned that Acting Commissioner Novelette Grant was not appointed Commissioner of Police.

It announced on Monday that Deputy Commissioner of Police George Quallo has been appointed Police Commissioner effective April 18.

Grant, who was among applicants for the job, has been acting in the post since January when Dr Carl Williams vacated office on pre-retirement leave.

The NDM yesterday said, from its point of view, the “secretive interview process conducted by the Police Services Commission and the selective and subjective way the assessment was done provided little confidence in the process”.

It further argued that the official announcement made by Minister of National Security Robert Montague provides little confidence that Quallo “will break from the norm but will proceed as usual, reporting to a political appointee instead of to Parliament”.

NDM reasoned that the Office of Police Commissioner should act independently and report directly to Parliament, similar to INDECOM and the Electoral Commission of Jamaica, to name a few.   

The political party reiterated its call for the Government to untie the hands of the Commissioner and provide the Jamaica Constabulary Force with the tools needed to protect Jamaicans.