Opposition Leader expresses concern over political interference in TTPS
Months after the public disclosure of the illegal abduction of Brent Thomas from Barbados, the TTPS has not provided a written preliminary report to the country. This failure strikes at the root of the integrity of the organization and severely diminishes public confidence that the investigation is free from political interference.
Fitzgerald Hinds and Keith Rowley have unbelievably publicly claimed that they had no idea about the illegal actions of these officers.
There are now only two options which can explain how police officers ASP Birch, Senior Supt Suzette Martin and Cpl Joefield were all able to commandeer a CARICOM aircraft to forcibly and illegally detain and abduct Brent Thomas from Barbados.
This illegal abduction was done EITHER
1. Solely by the officers involved, without the knowledge of the then COP McDonald Jacob
OR
2. With the knowledge and permission of the then COP McDonald Jacob
Therefore, if Rowley and Hinds are to be believed, the officers acted either without any approval OR with the approval of then COP McDonald Jacob.
Two questions now arise:
1. If they acted unilaterally, why are these officers not suspended pending the outcome of the investigations? In fact, these officers have remained in their high-ranking positions in the PSB which is the same unit tasked with investigating this illegal abduction and other police officers.
2. Why has former COP McDonald Jacob not been questioned as to whether he authorized this illegal abduction?
It is disturbing that some members of the TTPS hierarchy and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Social and Welfare Association are parroting Rowley’s talking points and thus attempting to intimidate citizens from commenting on the disturbing political interference, coercion and scheming occurring within parts of the TTPS.
I wish to remind all, that Trinidad and Tobago is not a police state. There are many good and decent officers whose images are being unfairly tarnished by the machinations of a few politically aligned and corrupt officers within the TTPS.
The public is left to conclude that scheming or incompetence is at play which can have potentially adverse effects on the functioning of the TTPS and negative implications for law enforcement in our country.
I again call on the officers implicated in the illegal Brent Thomas abduction, do not trust Keith Rowley, Fitzgerald Hinds and some members of the hierarchy of the TTPS. It is time to put yourselves, your families, and the reputation of the TTPS first. Do not continue to believe those who are washing their hands of you, seek legal advice, tell the country the truth and let the chips fall where they may.
This is a lesson to all other TTPS officers who want to do the dirty work of the PNM. The UNC will win the next general election and the truth will come to light. Truth and justice will prevail.
Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP
Leader of the Opposition