By Sue-Ann Wayow
PRIME Minister Dr Keith Rowley is disappointed that Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher was arrested.
While he expressed disappointment, he also said that a person remained innocent until proven guilty.
Dr Rowley was speaking to the media on Friday, after the commissioning of the Gran Chemin Fishing Centre in Moruga.
He also said the investigation was being dealt with by the necessary law enforcement agencies and denied that government had no role to play.
Dr Rowley said, “I have already seen some people attempting to ascribe this as a government matter. Let me just emphasise to you, the government of Trinidad and Tobago does not identify any person to become the subject of a police investigation, or is charged with prosecution. That is a matter for the police and there is no role in that process of prosecution for the government.”
The Prime Minister also said that should Harewood-Christopher be indicted in any way the Police Service Commission (PSC) will get involved.
“We have an independent Police Service Commission whose duty is to oversee the performance and discipline of the commissioner and all the deputies. Of course the government has an interest in ensuring and encouraging that the Police Service always has available to it, proper management and arrangement for supervising the Police Service.”
Dr Rowley admitted that he did not have all the details concerning the arrest of the top cop and also admitted that Government was not anxious to get involved.
“We are not anxious to get involved in what is not really our responsibility. The responsibility lies very clearly with the police and their investigations, their findings and guidance of the DPP and we are all protected there,” he said.
Harewood-Christopher’s arrest took place in just over one month since the State of Emergency (SoE) was announced on December 30.
She was unanimously voted in as the first woman Police Commissioner in Parliament by both Government and Opposition members following the recommendation by the PSC in 2023 and had her position extended in 2024.
