I make the point to address David Abdullah’s rantings about the resignations of Police commissioner Dwayne Gibbs and one of his deputies, Jack Ewatski. Both Canadians advised the Police Service Commission (PSC) by letter dated 26th July that they would resign, effective August 7, 2012.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced on Monday night that she had been advised that the top officers had resigned and also reiterated her government’s commitment to fighting crime with full force. In that context she said her National Security Minister would announce some crime fighting measures in the next few weeks. (Read the PM's statement)
The next day the PSC met and announced the appointment of Deputy Commissioner Stephen Williams to act in the top post until January 31. Those are the facts reported in the national media.
Reporters have suggested that the men may have been pushed out of office but there is no evidence to support this speculation. And both men have issued a statement confirming that they were not hounded out of office.
In spite of all this, Abdullah, who leads the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ), issued a lengthy statement accusing the government of politically harassing Gibbs and Ewatski. (Read the story in the Express)
Abdullah spoke about the constitutional protection of the top officers and the fact that "the Police Service Commission is appointed by the President after consultation with Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, thus the members of the PSC are NOT political appointees."
He further pointed out that under Section 123 of the Constitution the PSC is the sole authority for assessing the performance of the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner.
In spite of all this, Abdullah, who leads the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ), issued a lengthy statement accusing the government of politically harassing Gibbs and Ewatski. (Read the story in the Express)
Abdullah spoke about the constitutional protection of the top officers and the fact that "the Police Service Commission is appointed by the President after consultation with Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, thus the members of the PSC are NOT political appointees."
He further pointed out that under Section 123 of the Constitution the PSC is the sole authority for assessing the performance of the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner.
"The Cabinet has absolutely no role in this whatsoever. If the Minister of National Security has a difficulty with the Commissioner or if the Cabinet does not think that the crime fighting strategies of the Commissioner are effective then they cannot remove those Officers."
The Prime Minister and the minister are aware of these facts and while there is speculation that Gibbs and Ewatski may have been pressured to leave, the verifiable evidence in the public domain does not support it. Therefore, we must give the government the benefit of the doubt.
What Abdullah is in effect saying is that the speculation is the truth and that both officers as well as the government told lies. That is irresponsible, especially since he has presented nothing to support his wild charges.
Abdullah also questioned why it was necessary for the Prime Minister to make the announcement about the resignations and why cabinet met to discuss the matter. He also asked this question: "How do these resignations tie in with the sustained criticism of their performance by the new Minister of National Security?"
Abdulah continued, "indeed, it is our view that the two officers were politically harassed and given virtually no other alternative but to resign by a Government desperate to shore up its image on crime."
Crime is the number one problem facing the country so it is logical that if the Prime Minister is advised by the PSC that the police commissioner and one of his deputies have resigned that she would want to meet with her cabinet before the public is advised of this development.
And there is nothing wrong or irregular about a leader making such an announcement. Abdullah’s other point is also puzzling. If the government wants to "shore up its image on crime" why would it want to "politically harass" two top officers and send them back to Canada?
The fact is they did not. The records show that the PSC had reservations about the performance of the two men as stated by PSC Chairman Prof Ramesh Deosaran from the time he assumed office.
The Prime Minister and the minister are aware of these facts and while there is speculation that Gibbs and Ewatski may have been pressured to leave, the verifiable evidence in the public domain does not support it. Therefore, we must give the government the benefit of the doubt.
What Abdullah is in effect saying is that the speculation is the truth and that both officers as well as the government told lies. That is irresponsible, especially since he has presented nothing to support his wild charges.
Abdullah also questioned why it was necessary for the Prime Minister to make the announcement about the resignations and why cabinet met to discuss the matter. He also asked this question: "How do these resignations tie in with the sustained criticism of their performance by the new Minister of National Security?"
Abdulah continued, "indeed, it is our view that the two officers were politically harassed and given virtually no other alternative but to resign by a Government desperate to shore up its image on crime."
Crime is the number one problem facing the country so it is logical that if the Prime Minister is advised by the PSC that the police commissioner and one of his deputies have resigned that she would want to meet with her cabinet before the public is advised of this development.
And there is nothing wrong or irregular about a leader making such an announcement. Abdullah’s other point is also puzzling. If the government wants to "shore up its image on crime" why would it want to "politically harass" two top officers and send them back to Canada?
The fact is they did not. The records show that the PSC had reservations about the performance of the two men as stated by PSC Chairman Prof Ramesh Deosaran from the time he assumed office.
In February the PSC told a Parliamentary committee that it was not satisfied with the performance of the commissioner. Both Deosaran and commission member Addison Khan stated that while Gibbs passed the performance appraisal for his first year in office he did so with the lowest marks.
That was long before Jack Warner became national security minister. And if Warner was critical of the work of the commissioner it appears to be consistent with the findings of the PSC, which has jurisdiction to independently deal with the matter.
Ewatski had come under extreme pressure from the PSC and other stakeholders over the lease of a light surveillance aircraft and his leadership in the 21st century policing initiative.
The point is this: the PSC has had a problem with the performance of these officers for a long time. The Police Welfare Association has had a problem too and have taken their concerns to the Industrial court. The public perception of the performance of the men has also been negative. All this suggest that even if both men have the competence to fight crime they have faced major hurdles that have hindered their performance. Perhaps that's why they threw in the towel.
There is nothing to suggest that the government breached the constitution or trampled on anybody’s rights. So when Abdullah makes all kinds of irresponsible accusations he is showing his true colours – that he lacks leadership qualities and is more interested in sensationalism than in rational thinking as a means of solving national problems.
That was long before Jack Warner became national security minister. And if Warner was critical of the work of the commissioner it appears to be consistent with the findings of the PSC, which has jurisdiction to independently deal with the matter.
Ewatski had come under extreme pressure from the PSC and other stakeholders over the lease of a light surveillance aircraft and his leadership in the 21st century policing initiative.
The point is this: the PSC has had a problem with the performance of these officers for a long time. The Police Welfare Association has had a problem too and have taken their concerns to the Industrial court. The public perception of the performance of the men has also been negative. All this suggest that even if both men have the competence to fight crime they have faced major hurdles that have hindered their performance. Perhaps that's why they threw in the towel.
There is nothing to suggest that the government breached the constitution or trampled on anybody’s rights. So when Abdullah makes all kinds of irresponsible accusations he is showing his true colours – that he lacks leadership qualities and is more interested in sensationalism than in rational thinking as a means of solving national problems.
Jai Parasram | Nova Scotia, Canada - 02 August 2012
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