PRESIDENT of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and Social Welfare Association Sgt Anand Ramesar yesterday described a meeting with Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams as very promising.

He said the meeting was one of the best his executive has had with the executive of the Police Service since coming into office, and it was given the undertaking some of its issues and concerns would be addressed within the next two weeks.

Ramesar said his executive was able to air many pressing issues, including promotions from the rank of corporal to sergeant and sergeant to inspector, which were due since 2008; the deployment of personnel from the Community Crime and Prevention Unit; and the inaction that previously existed with respect to administrative orders.

"Those promotions were not previously addressed, and we sought to bring those on the table as being urgent and immediate, and we got that assurance that they are going to be dealt with," Ramesar said in a telephone interview.

"We are satisfied by the commitment given in the meeting, and we expect to see some results regarding some of the short-term issues being addressed within a week or two. After that period, we would assess our position regarding the efficiency of the Acting Commissioner."

He added, "I must say, coming out of all the meetings, we left there with a hope and a real expectation that the matter will be treated in the short term."

Also present at the meeting were Deputy Commissioner Maurice Piggott, Acting DCP Raymond Craig and Snr Supt Christopher of the Human Resource Unit.

The association also met with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and the Police Service Commission last week and expressed grave concern and discontent over the leadership of former acting CoP James Philbert. Days later, Philbert was sent home by the PSC, one month before his September 30 contract had ended. The PSC said the move was to facilitate a smooth transition of the appointment of Canadian Dwayne Gibbs to the post of top cop.

Ramesar said yesterday his executive also met with president of the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union (OWTU) Ancil Roget and discussed the issue of salary negotiations for police officers.