THE Police Service Social and Welfare Association is in full support of former minister of works Jack Warner being Minister of National Security.

In a telephone interview with the Express yesterday, Secretary of the Association Sgt Michael Seales said it is the tenacity of Warner that encourages the association to rally around him.

"He has been a very shrewd and astute businessman and that lends itself to a model that has not existed in the Police Service for quite some time. The Ministry would have always been the beneficiary of people who would have come from the army or lawyers...now we have a businessman.

"With that type of acumen he will bring a different approach, a paradigm shift. We have seen the kind of energy displayed as the Chaguanas West MP and with the Works and Infrastructure Ministry and we welcome that energy," Seales said.

Seales added that despite the allegations of impropriety levelled against Warner in the past, those are just allegations and the association will stand behind him as he will bring a fresh and innovative way to deal with the crime situation other than having joint police and army patrols when the crime rate spikes.

Warner was being investigated for allegedly breaching the Foreign Exchange Act and the Customs Act which prohibit the importation of any currency except with the permission of the Central Bank.

He was also being investigated on allegations of bribing 16 Caribbean football officials at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port of Spain on or about May 10, 2011 to vote for then presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam.

Seales said if the Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs "in his wisdom" were to investigate Warner on the allegations they will undoubtedly support the Commissioner of Police since the association is about putting God and country first.

Asked whether Warner's predecessor, retired Brig John Sandy was better off as National Security Minister given his background, Seales said: "Sandy came into a difficult situation and he brought some stability to the Police Service in terms of what could be done to deal with crime.

"It takes more than that stability that Sandy brought. The Association is very excited that Mr Warner has taken over the Ministry. Mr Warner has that potential in terms of the approach to it and not in the orthodox manner and the Association has said what we need now in this time innovation and creativeness."