By Prior Beharry
THE judgement of Justice Nadia Kangaloo on Thursday has plunged Trinidad and Tobago into a constitutional crisis where three high office holders could be involved in misconduct in public office.
This was the claim made by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar who held a press conference at Charles Street in Port-of-Spain minutes after Justice Kangaloo ruled that the acting appointment of Gary Griffith as police commissioner is void and unconstitutional.
Persad-Bissessar said this was the first time that T&T will be without a police commissioner or acting police commissioner.
She said the Government has launched an unprecedented assault on all of the independent institutions including the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
Persad-Bissesar said, “The fiasco which has seen the complete collapse of the Police Service Commission (PolSC) is a stain that will forever mark our young Republic.
“Three of the highest offices in our land – The President, Prime Minister and Attorney General are entangled in actions that may amount to misconduct in public office. Her Excellency the President, the Attorney General and especially the Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, all have serious questions to answer over this matter.
“Instead of doing their duty and accounting to the people of our nation, these three public office holders have preferred to all ignore that sacred duty.
“They have been aided and abetted by the former Police Service Commission’s chair Bliss Seepersad.
“The country has been plunged into a Constitutional abyss, a constitutional atomic bomb has exploded resulting in a nuclear governmental meltdown.
“The three individuals sought to build a wall of lies to obstruct the nation from getting at the truth. Well today the high court delivered a blow that has now destroyed this PNM wall of lies.
“This blow from the high court strikes right at the heart of the Office of Her Excellency the President, the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Prime Minister-Keith Christopher Rowley.
“McDonald Jacob’s acting appointment comes to an end at midnight tonight and in the absence of a Commission there will be no Commissioner of Police for the country at a time when murders and serious crime is back on the rise with four murders yesterday alone. This will be the first time in history that we will not have a top cop.
“As of midnight tonight, there is no police commissioner in Trinidad and Tobago for the first time since Independence. Thanks to this PNM Government.”
She said what has transpired appears to be a deliberate conspiracy game to get rid of Griffith as police commissioner.
Asked if she endorsed Griffith as commissioner, Persad-Bissessar said she holds no brief for him but he did a good job.
The opposition leader said that President Paula-Mae Weekes should speak up about what transpired with the merit list for the police commissioner.
She called on President Weekes to speak up about what transpired on August 12 when then chairman of the PoLSC Bliss Seepersad went submit a merit list of nominees for police commissioner to her.
Persad-Bissessar said according to the law, the President has no choice but to submit the merit list to Parliament for affirmative resolution.
She said, “The President should speak up or resign. I think she has a moral, ethical duty in the interest of the public and for the public good by reason of the office she holds.
“For the country to have and repose the trust and confidence in her to discharge her duties as she took her oath impartially, without fair or favour that she has a duty in that regard to speak up.”
Persad-Bissessar said President Weekes should stop being a “poster girl” for Prime Minister Rowley.
She said she should speak up as she was an experienced jurist and brilliant woman.
Persad-Bissessar said the affidavit of the acting Director of Personnel Administration in the Service Commission Department Corey Harrison in the court case stated that a list of nominees for police commissioner was submitted to the President on August 12.
