PM Kamla meets with President Richards to discuss "matters of public concern"

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar met with President Max Richards Tuesday and told reporters afterwards that “hard decisions" have to be taken "in the interest of preserving social cohesion.”

She was responding to questions from the media about the controversy that has developed over statements by Police Service Commission (PSC) chairman Nizam Mohammed about what he said is an ethnic imbalance in the police service.

Persad-Bissessar explained that the meeting was a routine weekly conference, which she usually holds with the president on Tuesdays.

“We discussed matters of public concern but I will not be at liberty to disclose the details of that conversation. What I will say is that I will do whatever I have to do to ensure we do not divide the people of TT,” she said when asked what she and Richards discussed.

On Monday the government issued a media release in which it condemned Mohammed's remarks and said the PSC chairman must be held accountable for his "reckless and senseless comments" which it said runs "against the very grain of the philosophy that now governs this country."

It added, "Statements such as the one by Mr. Mohammed are divisive and serve no useful purpose other than to undermine the trust that is reposed in him as the Chairman of the Police Service Commission."

Persad-Bissessar said during the election campaign “conversations with the people were with respect to equity and justice for all,” adding that the people's partnership reflects the face of the society.

“So whatever I do I will do the best that I can to hold the society together. Sometimes we have to take hard decisions. I will take those decisions if I have to and that is all I can say on this matter at this time.”

She also reminded reporters that she does not have any jurisdiction to determine Mohammed's future since the PSC is an independent body under the constitution. “Under the law such issues fall, constitutionally within the purview of His Excellency,” she said.

She said the President would be guided by Act 6 of 2006 which sets out the criteria to be used if a member of a Service Commission has to be removed.

“As I say, those are matters within the discretion of His Excellency and totally out of my hands." She did not say if she recommended that the president remove Mohammed, reiterating that she was “not at liberty to disclose discussions I had with His Excellency."