By Sue-Ann Wayow
ONE year ago, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley wrote a letter to the Police Service Commission (PolSC) stating that he has lost confidence in the abilities of then Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith to effectively do his job.
This was revealed by Dr Rowley on Saturday during at press conference in at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s.
The press conference that is usually held to update the nation on Covid-19 related matters took a different turn as the prime minister attempted to clear burning issues that he admitted have the nation uneasy concerning President Paula-Mae Weekes, the PolSC and a the lack of a commissioner of police.
Dr Rowley said, “One year ago, in my capacity as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, I wrote to the Police Service Commission, a letter under my hand, under my signature. And the most important thing I could do as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago is to attach my signature to any document. That letter was a letter indicating to the commission that as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, I had lost confidence in the Commissioner of Police of Trinidad and Tobago.”
That letter was one–third of three pieces of correspondence, the prime minister said he had with the PolSC and all information was above board.
What exactly has the President done to deserve impeachment?
Dr Rowley asked the T&T population to say what exactly has President Weekes done to warrant impeachment, that is being demanded by the Opposition.
Dr Rowley blamed Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar for spreading inaccurate “rubbish” information to the public concerning his involvement saying she has “disturbed the country’s psyche.”
On Friday, Persad-Bissessar announced that the Opposition United National Congress (UNC) has filed a motion in the Parliament to remove President Weekes from office.
The motion filed in her name under Section 36 of the Constitution is signed by the other 18 UNC MPs. The motion requires a two-thirds of members of both Houses of Parliament and seeks to establish a tribunal to investigate the President’s removal from Office.
However, Dr Rowley defended Weekes saying she was doing her highest duty which including pointing out to him, the selection process for persons to temporarily act as Police or Deputy Police Commissioners.
“The subsidiary legislation did not compare to the parent legislation,” he said.
He challenged Persad-Bissessar to state any fact of wrong doing on the President’s part.
Referring to Persad-Bissessar the Prime Minister said, “There is a crazy Opposition Leader of Trinidad and Tobago… Who misses no opportunity to make bacchanal in this country.”
Dr Rowley said there seemed to be confusion with independent bodies which does not rule out by law, interaction.
In dramatic style, Dr Rowley introduced himself to the nation as the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and was required by law to inform the President of certain matters and it was not unusual for him to visit the President’s House.
Dr Rowley said both top offices had a good professional working relationship.
He described as “hogwash” information being disseminated that he has bullied Weekes into conforming to the People’s National Movement (PNM) bidding, the party he leads categorically denying any political interference.
Dr Rowley said, “I go to the President’s House whenever I want to be there.”
Without stating the details of any meeting, he said he was under no obligation to reveal any details as discussions can centre around private or public matters and if necessary, then the public would be made aware of such details.
However, he did say that there was no tripartite meeting as being stated in the public domain with Weekes, himself and the then chairman of the PolSC.
Dr Rowley also refused to answer any questions asked by the media concerning the merit list containing the names of persons chosen by the PolSC for the position of CoP.
Concerning the High Court judgement of Justice Nadia Kangaloo, the Government concedes with it, he said.
Dr Rowley said public institutions in charge will do their due duty and there was no need to panic.
“We will work our way out of this by the institutions doing what they have to do,” the prime minister said.
See Griffith’s response below:
