By Sue-Ann Wayow
OPPOSITION Member of Parliament Dr Roodal Moonilal says the vetted units in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) being proposed by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley are unconstitutional and undemocratic.
Speaking at the Opposition press conference on Sunday, Dr Moonilal said, “This is unconstitutional. It is undemocratic. The Constitution, it is very clear that the Constitution determines the role and functions of critical institutions.
“It is the Commissioner of Police who has complete control over the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS). The Police Commissioner has sole authority to establish units in the police service, to conduct the business of policing according to law. not the Prime Minister.”
On Saturday, Dr Rowley announced that he was in discussions with the US to have vetted units within the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) to root out corrupted cops.
But according to Dr Moonilal, there were already established agencies to tackle those issues.
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These include the Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau (ACIB), the Professional Standard Bureau (PSB) and also the Police Complaints Authority (PCA).
Dr Moonilal asked, “Is Rowley saying he has no confidence in these established institutions and he wants to hand-pick officers to investigate?”
He said, “Rowley is proposing a 21st-century mongoose gang in T&T led, initiated, directed, instigated, and promoted by the political directorate to be involved in criminal investigations.”
“Who will vet the vetting?” Dr Moonilal asked.
He said the Prime Minister could not properly issue funding for police vehicle repair but wanted to put funding in the “mongoose gang.”
