The Ministry of National Security issued a media release late Friday to correct what it said were errors in the headline story of Friday's Trinidad Express Newspaper.
The article was published with the banner headline SIA SHOCKER with the sub-heading "Minister in the dark, staff sour as 31-year-old junior employee appointed to head spy agency".
The release made it clear that contrary to what was reported in the article, no permanent appointment has been made. "The officer was appointed to act for a period of six months in the Office of Director of the SSA," the release stated.
And it added that the newspaper was also wrong in reporting that the officer will head the SIA.
"The appointment was made to assist in the rationalization, streamlining and amalgamation of the SIA into the SSA. The merger has been ongoing for some time." the ministry stated.
It also explained how it arrived at the decision. "The National Security Council of Ministers met to consider a recommendation from the Deputy Director of the SSA that an officer be appointed, to act as Director of the SSA. The Minister of National Security is a member of the National Security Council," it stated.
"The Council deliberated on the matter and decided to accept the recommendation of the Deputy Director. The appointed officer has 9 years experience at the SIA and is a graduate of the University of the West Indies (UWI)."
The release did not name the officer. The Express said she is Reshmi Usha Ramnarine, who is 31.
The appointment is not sitting well with Opposition Leader Keith Rowley who is demanding that the Prime Minister rescind the appointment immediately.
"It is our view that we have to consider our relationship with this Government...the PNM Opposition will seriously consider whether we want to participate in any collaborative process with this Government on any matter as long as this woman remains in this position," Rowley said at a news conference in Parliament.
He said that the Opposition can no longer take the Government seriously.
"Is there any truth in the allegations being made in some quarters that she may have used her position to obtain and share information in an unauthorised manner, with persons who are now holding senior advisory positions to the Prime Minister? Because if those allegations are true, we now know exactly what took place there," Rowley said.
Rowley noted that Persad-Bissessar had said she received a phone call from someone who gave her information the SIA was being used to spy on Government and other public officials.
"Is it that this person was the whistleblower to which the Prime Minister made dramatic and copious reference? Rowley asked. And he suggested clandestine motives in the 6-month appointment.
"Is it true that she has been detailed to continue spying or monitoring members of the Opposition and persons of interest to the Prime Minister, and that the six-month appointment is deliberately crafted to provide her with enough time to screen and remove information detrimental to the Prime Minister and her Government?" Rowley asked.
"Is this a payback for the information provided which tipped the Prime Minister off for the alleged improper conduct of SIA officers prior to November 2010?"
Rowley suggested that the director of there to do the work of the political directorate and said there is information at the SIA which can be "very damaging" if not handled with competence.
He called on Congress of the People (COP) leader Winston Dookeran demand that this appointment be revoked. He said he would not let this matter rest and promised to raise more questions next Friday on a motion he filed on the SIA.
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