Former acting commissioner of police James Philbert will be paid the salary for the last month of his three-month extension although he vacated office before that term expired, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said yesterday.

Last week, the Police Service Commission (PSC) decided that Philbert should be relieved of his duties, in order to pave the way for incoming Canadian Commissioner of Police (CoP) Dwayne Gibbs, who will assume duties this month. In the interim, the PSC appointed Stephen Williams to act.

Many questioned the move however. Some, among them Opposition Leader Keith Rowley, believed it was politically motivated, while others, among them Dana Seetahal SC and former PSC chairman Stephen Thomas, said Philbert's contract had been breached and he should at least be paid for the remainder of his time.

Addressing the issue at yesterday's post-Cabinet press conference, Persad-Bissessar said, "If there is any concern or issue, indeed whether there is or not, I've already asked the Minister of National Security to pay him the one month's money so he will not in any way be disadvantaged by his extension being shortened from three months to two months."

Persad-Bissessar took the opportunity to thank Philbert for his efforts as acting CoP and pointed out that he was not sent home.

"Mr Philbert was not sent home, and he himself said it. He was given an extension, as far as I understand it, for a three-month period. May I take this opportunity to thank Mr Philbert for his service to Trinidad and Tobago," she said.

"It is very sad and regrettable that Commissioner of Police Philbert was acting as CoP for so long. But, we cannot remedy of that wrong for the period of time he was left there to languish as acting. He should have gone home on retirement as the Commissioner of Police, it makes a difference to pension package and so on, so to Mr Philbert I am sorry but that was before our time."