Rowley keeping SSA matter alive; demands criminal investigation

Keith Rowley is refusing to give up on the Reshmi Ramnarine matter and is now calling for an investigation to determine if there was a criminal conspiracy in which officers of the State fabricated and embellished the qualifications of Ramnarine and produced that information to the Prime Minister.

Speaking at his regular Monday news conference, the opposition leader also said he does not believe that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar did not know Ramnarine.

Rowley insisted that there was a conspiracy that warrants further detailed criminal investigation so that people would be forced to speak the truth to investigators. 

"That is the only way that the truth will be told to the country and the only way we can assure that there would not be a repeat performance," he said.

He said the PNM is not giving up on the matter, noting that "there are legal developments and legal implications and we say no more at this time as the matter unfolds".

He added, "I can give you the assurance that it certainly would not be abandoned by 'moving on'. This matter has to be properly addressed by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. And unfortunately it falls to the Prime Minister to address her personal conduct in the matter."

Rowley said the Opposition also wants Julie Browne removed as the Deputy Director of the Strategic Services Agency (SSA). She is the person who recommended Ramnarine for the post of Director and endorsed the resume that stated that Ramnarine had a university degree when in fact she had none.