Don’t sit as props for Hinds

Heads of various arms of the National Security apparatus must not appear to be supporting casts for photo-ops with the Minister of National Security, who seems unmindful of the sharp distinction which must exist between politicians and senior public officials.

They must be wary of Minister Hinds’ continued use of their presence at National Security press briefings to go on long winded, vapid, drawn out political tirades, with no performance based plan or policy to deal with the current spate of crimes, giving the impression that his failures are supported by all branches of national security.

This leads to embarrassing events, similar to what occurred at Monday’s National Security press briefing, where Commissioner of Prisons Deopersad Ramoutar was asked about cell phone jammers and gave the shocking response that he had never seen one.

We were subsequently told by Minister Hinds that these jammers were simply housed in the prisons but were under the SSA’s control.

How can the politically appointed and overfunded SSA have complete control of these jammers and the Prison Commissioner is totally unaware?

Does this make sense considering last year’s hit list on prison officers?

Shouldn’t the Prison Commissioner at least be aware, or in partial control, of cell phone jammers in our prisons?

This reeks of political interference and intrusion on the part of the Executive and this cannot be good for our democracy.

If this continues, we will have senior National Security officials who are oblivious to national security business and hand puppets of the Minister and this kakistocratic PNM administration.

Crime has TT in a state of crisis and without independent minded and critical thinkers at the helm of our National Security apparatus, criminals will continue to cause havoc. TT does not need PNM ‘yes-men’.

They must firmly tell Minister Hinds that they are independent professionals and not lackeys of his incompetent administration.

MP Rodney Charles