Wednesday, September 1, 2010

No politics in Philbert's removal: Ag. CoP Williams

Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams on Tuesday dismissed suggestions that there was political interference in the removal of his predecessor James Philbert. And he insisted that if that was so he would not have accepted the acting assignment.

Williams made to comment to reporters following the annual Independence Day reception hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service in Port of Spain.

Opposition Leader Keith Rowley has charged that Philbert was removed for political reasons and has demanded a public explanation.

Philbert was appointed acting Commissioner of Police in 2008 after the PNM administration rejected Williams, who was recommended as the number one candidate for the job.

Then Prime Minister Patrick Manning used his veto to block the appointment, saying Williams was not suitable to be Police Commissioner. Rowley supported the decision.

"I would not have agreed to act in the top cop post on the matter of principle," Williams said. "I do not think it had any politics involved, he added.

The Police Service Commission said it asked Philbert to leave in order to ensure a smooth transition in the leadership of the Police Service when Canadian Dwayne Gibbs takes over as the new police chief.

The talk of political interference is linked to a statement made by Attorney General Anand Ramlogan about the refusal of police to act to stop looting at the site of the controversial Guanapo church.

Ramlogan had asked for an explanation and suggested that if the top cop was unable to do his job he could be replaced. Philbert's response was that the AG was out of place.

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Jai & Sero

Jai & Sero

Our family at home in Toronto 2008

Our family at home in Toronto 2008
Amit, Heather, Fuzz, Aj, Jiv, Shiva, Rampa, Sero, Jai