By Chantalé Fletcher
UNITED National Congress (UNC) Senator Wade Mark says the People’s National Movement (PNM) is experiencing an “epidemic of madness.”
He said, “T&T, it is time to wake up, stand up and rise up in defense of our democracy which was under assault and systematic attack.”
Speaking at the Opposition Leader’s office in Port-of-Spain on Thursday, he said that Trinidad and Tobago was on the edge of an abyss.
Mark made reference to a letter in the Express Newspaper on September 22 addressed to the Police Service Commission (PolSC), written in August to the Chairman and members of the PolSC, from Roger Kawalsingh.
The letter read, “The list was finalised and was due to be delivered to Her Excellency, the President on August 12, 2021 at President’s House. The Chairman of the PolSC, Ms Bliss Seepersad was met by another public official, who voiced certain concerns and promised to forward documents in support of concerns raised. The issues raised so alarmed the chair, that the list was not delivered to Her Excellency.”
Mark called on Seepersad and President Paula-Mae Weekes to explain to the country, who was the public official in attendance in the meeting on August 12 at the President’s House.
He said information from reliable sources revealed a senior Cabinet minister sat in a chair in that room, at that place on August 12 at the President’s house.
Senator Mark also called on Minister in the Office of Prime Minister Stuart Young, National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to answer who was the senior Cabinet minister that in the President’s House.
He highlighted these concerns as serious. “As the independent Police Service Commission should not be taking any direction from government minister inclusive of the prime minister, and should not be subject to any political influence by any political member of the political directorate”
He also called on President Weekes to state her role in the “fiasco “of the COP,” as well as Seepersad had a duty of care to say who was the senior Cabinet minister at that meeting.
Mark asked whether the commission had instructed Seepersad to write to the senior Cabinet member a letter to hear his concerns.
He asked, “Was that a decision of the Commission and if it was, why did you carry it out?”
Mark added that the Opposition warned the President that Seepersad’s appointment was highly irregular and must not be forgotten.
In referring to Section 126 (2) of the Constitution, “No serving member in a public office can serve as a member of the PolSC or any Service Commission, unless that person had spent three years in the wilderness.”
Senator Mark said, “When Seepersad was appointed as Chairman of the PolSC, she was a serving member of the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) either its chairman or Director; so, while appointed as Chairman, she was Director\Chairman of the CDA.”
He claimed that she served two masters at the same time, in public office and received monies from the state, which she filed her integrity forms every year with the Integrity Commission.
Mark added that these were declarations that she was a public holder but yet the President proceeded to appoint an individual who violated the section.
He also questioned the PolSC’s authority to appoint Mc Donald Jacob as acting Police Commissioner, claiming it was unlawful under the Section 123 (1) (a) of the Constitution.
