1990 coup commissioner under scrutiny over bogus qualifications

Hafizool Mohammed - Guardian photo

The commission of enquiry into the 1990 coup attempt resumes in Port of Spain Wednesday with serious questions about one of the commissioners, Hafizool Mohammed.

Mohammed admitted to the Guardian newspaper that he obtained his doctorate of science (DSc) in international relations from Atlantic International University (AIU), which is known as a diploma mill. The paper said Mohammed knew it was not an accredited U.S. educational institution.

The Guardian said its investigations have also revealed that Mohammed's claim to have a degree in national security from a U.S. military institute is also bogus.

Mohammed, who is a U.S. citizen living in the U.S., is originally from Dow Village, Trinidad.

Opposition Leader Keith Rowley has called this development a "travesty", adding that the government consistently appoints unqualified people to important positions. "Who selected this man?" he asked.

The commissioners for the enquiry were appointed by Timothy Hamel Smith, who was acting president of Trinidad & Tobago.

The appointment document is published below:

IN ACCORDANCE with section 15 of the Commissions of Enquiry Act, Chap. 19:01, of the Laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, notice is hereby given that on the 6th day of September, 2010, His Excellency, TIMOTHY HAMEL-SMITH, Acting President and Commander-in-Chief of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, in the exercise of the powers vested in him under section 2 of the said Act, issued the following Commission:

REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

By His Excellency TIMOTHY HAMEL-SMITH, Acting President and Commander-in-Chief of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

TIMOTHY HAMEL-SMITH

Acting President

Greetings:

To: Sir DAVID ANTHONY CATHCART SIMMONS, KA, BCH, Q.C.

Dr. the Honourable Sir RICHARD LIONEL CHELTENHAM, KA, Q.C., JP

Dr. HAFFIZOOL ALI -MOHAMMED

Dr. EASTLYN KATE McKENZIE

Mrs. DIANA MAHABIR-WYATT

WHEREAS by section 2 of the Commissions of Enquiry Act, Chap. 19:01 (hereinafter called “the Act”) it is provided, inter alia, that the President may whenever he shall deem it advisable issue a Commission appointing one or more Commissioners and authorizing such Commissioners or any quorum of them to enquire into any matter in which an enquiry would in the opinion of the President be for the public welfare:

And whereas the President on the advice of Cabinet has deemed it advisable and for the public welfare that the Commissioners be appointed to enquire into the events surrounded the attempted coup which occurred in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on 27th July, 1990(hereinafter referred to as “the attempted coup”) and to make such findings, observations and recommendations arising out of its deliberations as the Commission may deem appropriate, and for this purpose to issue a Commission pursuant to the Act with the following terms of reference:

1. To enquire into—

(i) the causes, nature, extent and impact of the attempted coup, including any contributing historical, social, economic, political and other factors;

(ii) the underlying purpose and extent of the intention behind the plot that led to the attempted coup;

(iii) any criminal acts and omissions, including looting which committed in connection with the attempted coup and the motives and objectives of the perpetrators of such acts or omissions;

(iv) the identity of any person or any local, regional or international authority, institution, organisation or entity who incited, masterminded, planned, directed, conspired towards, consented to, connived at, acquiesced in, participated in, aided or abetted the carrying out of, had prior knowledge of , or was implicated or otherwise involved in criminal acts or omissions, including looting, which were committed in connection with the attempted coup, and the extent to which any such person, authority, institution, organisation or entity did any such thing or had prior knowledge of, or was implicated or otherwise involved in, any such acts or omissions;

(v) the national security deficiencies and breaches of law that facilitated the attempted coup and the extent to which it was possible to prevent the occurrence of the attempted coup;

(vi) The response and performance of the Government, the Defence Force, the Protective Services and other Essential Services, the Foreign Service and the media during and after the attempted coup;

(vii) All matters pertaining to the negotiation, preparation, execution and the effect of the amnesty and the negotiation of the terms of surrender; and

(viii) The continuing propensities for criminal activity arising from the attempted coup and the correlation, if any; between the attempted coup and the trafficking, supplying and possession of illegal drugs, firearms and ammunition.