Service Commissions

THE SERVICE COMMISSIONS

Under the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, there are Four Service Commissions. They are Public Service Commission (Sec 120), the Police Service Commission (Sec. 122), the Teaching Service Commission (Sec. 124) and the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (Sec 110).
The framers of the Constitution had the objective of establishing political bodies with the sole purpose off maintaining neutral services operating on the basis of merit, free from patronage, discrimination, nepotism and injustice.

COMPOSITION OF THE SERVICE COMMISSIONS

The Members o f the Service Commissions are all appointed b y the President after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition usually for a period of three years. Contracts of Members can be extended for a further period. The membership of the Commissions consists of:-
• Public Service Commission - Chairman, Deputy Chairman and not less than two or more than four other members.
• Teaching Service Commission – Chairman and not more than four other members.
• Police Service Commission - Chairman or Deputy Chairman of the Public Service Commission and four other members.
• Judicial and Legal Service Commission - Chief Justice; Chairman of the Public Service Commission; Member who held the office of Judge and two members with legal qualifications.