Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said Friday it is "unfortunate" that there has been a war of words between Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and acting Commissioner of Police James Philbert James.However she disagreed that Ramlogan crossed the line and told reporters she does not share the view that he did.
She was speaking to reporters after a meeting with top security officials, including National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy, acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams and Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Edmund Dillon.
They discussed the state of lawlessness at the Lighthouse of the Lord Jesus Christ church on the Heights of Guanapo in Arima, which led to the Attorney General suggesting that the police chief had been negligent and that he could be fired for not properly doing his job.
Philbert responded by saying Ramlogan showed “contempt, disdain, bias and animosity for the office of Commissioner of Police” adding that Ramlogan arrived at a hasty conclusion without consultation.
Persad-Bissessar said she discussed the matter and while it is "unfortunate" she said "the matter is being handled" and suggested that everyone "put that behind us and move on."
She said her focus is in the security and safety of the national community. "That is our priority," she stated.
She agreed that there are suggestions that Ramlogan might have crossed the lines in his hash comments on Thursday.
“Perhaps I would have said it in a different way, each person has a different manner of expressing themselves...I may have done it differently, but I am not of the view that he had overstepped,” she said.
She added, “One may also ask in terms of acting Commissioner of Police Philbert, his words as well...I think it is most unfortunate,” she said.
“I am saying it is unfortunate on both sides and we need to just move ahead and get on with the people’s business."
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