Inspector Michael Laudat’s law suit against Police Commissioner & Police Service Commission will soon play out in the court

​Police Inspector Michael Laudat’s law suit against Police Commissioner and the Police Service Commission will soon play out in the court. The Court fixed July 2016 for the commencement of the trial, in a case where Laudat is challenging the decision of the Chief of Police, Daniel Carbon, and the Police Service Commission (PSC), in bypassing him for the post of Assistant Superintendent of police.

 ​Laudat is challenging the decision of the PSC to appoint McKelson Ferrol Assistant Superintendent over him, after the retirement of Assistant Superintendent Stafford Vigilant. He argues that he has acted on several occasions as Assistant Superintendent of police. He had applied for the position when it became vacant. However, he was not recommended by Police Chief Daniel Carbon, despite being the most qualified and experienced person for that post.

                    Police Inspector Michael Laudat

In his suit, DOMHCV 324 OF 2015, Laudat states, “in the circumstances, I say that the decision to overlook me for promotion in favour of a police officer who was less qualified was unreasonable, unfair, biased, and deprived me of the legitimate expectation to be promoted based on the object criteria of seniority, experience, educational qualifications, merit and ability together with relative efficiency.”
 
An Order dated March 7, 2016 from Justice Bernie Stephenson stated that all parties shall disclose all documents which they will seek to rely on in this matter on or before March 30, 2016. The Court also fixed June 30, 2016 for the filing of Bundles not later than 3.30pm on that day. Laudat is attached to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) as Principal Police Prosecutor and has had several local, regional and international training stints from 1990 to 2013 in various fields of crime, prosecuting, among others.
 
Laudat is not the first police officer to challenge the decision of the PSC. In 2001, now Superintendent of Police Cuffy Williams challenged the Chief and PSC when he was bypassed for the post of Inspector of police. The court ruled in his favour and he was later appointed to that post. Wayne Norde & Bernadette Lambert from the law chambers of Norde & Lambert are solicitors for Laudat. Tamika Hyacinth Burton from the office of Attorney General is representing the Chief of Police and the PSC.