This is the question being asked by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Persad-Bissessar on Monday night at the United National Congress (UNC) virtual report said, “Months later, he says ‘it was me’… Why would he come and say that now? I am not distracted. If he thinks that, that will distract anybody, I am not distracted.”
She echoed Member of Parliament Dr Roodal Moonilal’s statements that Dr Rowley “fractured the Constitution,” and boasted about his actions on the front page of a newspaper.
Persad-Bissessar said, “You think that is strongman tactics that it is something to be proud of? You’ve broken the law and you caused the President to break the law.”
The Opposition Leader said under her predecessor Basdeo Panday she met with Dr Rowley’s predecessor Patrick Manning to discuss the changing of the previous law regarding the appointment of a Police Commissioner.
She explained that at the time, the prime minister had veto power which caused an outcry and she was the one who suggested a “hybrid” system involving an independent PolSC that would made suggestions and the final approval would take place in the Parliament.
The President has no involvement but acts as a conduit or messenger between PolSC and Parliament.
Referring to the merit list, ranking the candidates for police commissioner, which was taken back after submission to President Paula-Mae Weeks, Persad-Bissessar said, “Rowley interfered with that and broke the law and in so doing causing Paula-Mae Weekes, Her Excellency, to break the law also because the President had no right to give it back to (then chairman of the PolSC) Ms Bliss (Seepersad) under the law, none!”
She said that Dr Rowley had admitted to expressing disappointment over former police commissioner Gary Griffith to the PolSC even before the merit list was compiled.
“If you had those problems, the Parliament is your place!” she declared.
“Prime Minister, you had your day in Parliament, should you have followed the law, you would have been able to tell the people of this country, these are the reasons, we will not accept the recommendation of the Police Service Commission, that’s the law of the land and that law will catch up with you sooner than later,” Persad-Bissessar said.
