What is the meaning behind this quote from departing Police Commissioner Gibbs in the Express of August 1 insisting that he resigned of his own volition — "I am disappointed that we did not get to finish the work which we wanted to complete".

Why did he not get to finish the work which he started when he still had over another year to go? Is it because he was forced to quit but is too polite to say so?

I want to register my disappointment with the praise for Mr Gibbs coming from the Prime Minister, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and Minister Jack Warner who speedily accepted the sudden resignation without question of so high an office holder. The PM or PSC or whoever is responsible for accepting the resignation should have enquired of Mr Gibbs the real reason for his decision to suddenly depart and try to solve them rather than hastily accept the resignation as if they couldn't wait to see his back. Was the resignation meant to politely tell us something was wrong? Something is amiss.

But more so I am disappointed with Commissioner Gibbs himself. I erroneously thought that his Emancipation speech to his officers where he called upon them to emancipate themselves and serve T&T better and where he identified the major shortcomings of the police service was a shot across the bow signalling tough action to follow, not realising that was his parting salvo in hasty retreat.

Now that his resignation has been accepted and he has officially quit he is loudly hoping that his replacement will carry on with the work he has started. Imagine this, and he still had over one more year to go!

He should have stood firm and defied the antics of Sgt Ramesar, Jack Warner and the pack. Stand up and make your plan work. Don't run and hope for someone else to do it for you.

I say no backbone, Mr Gibbs. What a disappointment.

Roy Nandram

via e-mail