ALTHOUGH she has been cleared of wrongdoing in relation to allegations of misconduct in public office, attorney Martin George says Commissioner of Police (CoP) Erla Harewood-Christopher may never recover from the embarrassment caused by her arrest and suspension from duties.

Harewood-Christopher was suspended by the Police Service Commission (PSC) in early February, pending the outcome of an investigation into her alleged role in the importation of sniper rifles for use by the Strategic Services Agency.

She resumed duties on May 12, a couple days before her term ends on May 14. To continue in the position, she has to be granted an extension, which she has received twice from the previous PNM government. A decision on her tenure has not yet been announced.

In a release on May 10, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard said there was not enough evidence to successfully prosecute Harewood-Christopher. But he said there was sufficient information to justify her arrest.

Harewood-Christopher’s lead attorney Pamela Elder, SC, has advised her to take legal action against the officers that arrested her as well as the senior officers who advised them.

On the Tobago Channel 5’s Rise & Shine programme on May 13, George said people making allegations about high-profile individuals in public life must always be circumspect and judicious in their approach.

“We have to ensure that we dot every ‘i,’ cross every ‘t’ because really and truly the reputational harm and damage which can result from this type of public embarrassment is something that you can never recover from. Regardless of what, people will always remember you for the scandal and the bacchanal rather than the fact that you were eventually vindicated.”

He continued, “That is our nature as Trinbagonians. We love the humour, the rumour, the mauvaise langue, the old talk rather than the hard, cold truth, because the mauvaise langue and bacchanal is always more interesting; it’s spicy, it’s salacious and we love to make a joke about it.

“But when you talking about someone’s character, their career, their reputation, it is something we have to take seriously and always tread cautiously when you are approaching these sorts of issues.”

Although the DPP found that there may have been sufficient evidence to justify her arrest, George questioned the manner in which it was done.

“It was played out in the public space, being arrested in her office by her subordinates, hauled off in the full glare of public scrutiny, it is something that could have been managed differently. The way it ended up playing out, it really was a scenario that inflicted maximum pain, suffering and embarrassment upon the CoP.”

On the possibility of a third extension for Harewood-Christopher, George said the government and PSC must decide.

“If it is that that’s their view and they notify the PSC, then the PSC’s role will really be to appoint in that regard.

“However, if it is that there is a question as to whether the extension is going to be granted or a decision