National Security Minister Martin Joseph yesterday said he was positive that Senior Superintendent of Police Stephen Williams will become the nation's Police Commissioner one day, "just not today".

Joseph did so as he noted that the process that governed the Police Service Commission (PSC) nomination of Williams just did not provide enough candidates to allow for the selection of the best nominee as Commissioner.

In doing so, Joseph said the Government did not want to cast any aspersions on either the PSC or Williams.

"Because of the convoluted nature of the process, people talked out, et cetera, you know. It pains me as Minister of National Security, no, to stand here, to stand here because Mr Williams-Mr Williams is an excellent police officer. There is no question about that. There is a future for Mr Williams, and I could see Mr Williams as a future Commissioner of Police, there is no question about that," Joseph said, as he delivered his contribution to the debate on Williams's nomination during the sitting of the House of Representatives at the Red House, Port of Spain.

Opposition Chief Whip Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj asked Joseph if he was saying the pool of candidates was not sufficient.

"We are satisfied that the process did not give us a sufficient pool from which to choose. People dropped out along the way for a number of reasons. How could you start to advertise internationally for a Commissioner of Police, and put in the advertisement TT$25,000?" Joseph said, in apparent reference to the salary being offered for the job.

As he wound up the debate on the nomination, Leader of Government Business Colm Imbert supported Joseph's sentiments. He said the Government would be calling on the Opposition to assist the Parliament in improving the selection process, since all MPs passed the legislation that implemented it in the first place.

But that was not the only call the Opposition MPs received in the Parliament on the issue yesterday. At 6 p.m., House speaker Barendra Sinanan proposed the question of Williams's nomination to the Parliament.

There was a clear division in the House, with all of the 22 Government MPs voting no, while all of the ten Opposition MPs voted in favour of Williams's nomination.

The House then adjourned its sitting to Monday.