By Sue-Ann Wayow
PRIME Minister Dr Keith Rowley has declared that there is no intention by him or his Government to influence or hamper the work of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in any way.
He said that he has tried to stay as far away as possible from even commenting on the DPP’s work in order to not be seen as interfering in what is supposed to be an independent office.
On Thursday, Dr Rowley hosted a press conference to speak on issues arising out of the DPP’s office raised by both DPP Roger Gaspard, SC, and himself.
The prime minister said he does not want to crush the DPP as alluded to by former prime minister Basdeo Panday on Monday.
The Opposition was lambasted for what Dr Rowley said was spreading lies and misinformation.
“I am not going to allow the UNC to tell lies about the facts of this country,” Dr Rowley said.
Due to the nature of the DPP’s office, Dr Rowley said Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, communicated more with the DPP than himself and certain questions should be posed to Armour and not to him.
He said Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar was “nastying up the country’s name” by all her allegations concerning him and the DPP made from her political platforms.
Dr Rowley said he has always been impartial since day one and nobody could point to him to say that he was attacking Gaspard.
“I will challenge this every time,” he declared.
Mentioning the building at the corner of Park and Henry Streets in Port of Spain designated to be the new DPP’s office, Dr Rowley said millions of dollars have been wasted for three years and now the building was being rented on a month to month basis.
While recommendations could be made, it did not have to be set in stone and as prime minister, he of all persons knew about the importance of security.
But he said recommendations must be reasonable.
“There comes a time to say what is reasonable, what is feasible and what is affordable,” Dr Rowley said.
He stated that the DPP’s office had 110% support from his Government and will be considering the issue of the building that is being rented at $600,000 monthly from a private landlord.
Dr Rowley added that it was no small money to be forking out for a building not in use and government was also looking at the whole issue of rentals for its government offices with an attempt to have buildings of its own, owned by the State.
On the issue of staffing, Dr Rowley said, “You can’t just take anybody from off the streets and put them in the DPP’s office.”
He said he has had discussions with Armour to look at recruiting attorneys with experience from other Caribbean island to fill vacancies in the DPP’s office.
The main reason why the Opposition would want to cause friction with the DPP office and the prime minister was because “they are trying to prevent the government from going after white-collar crime,” Dr Rowley said.
But he said, “The Government remains unshaken.”
