Sandy promises new recruitment policy for SSA director

The government of Trinidad and Tobago is developing an outline for recruitment to the post of Director of the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) to make sure that any person appointed to the sensitive intelligence post has the relevant qualifications.

"Government is committed to doing all in its power to ensure that any person who is assigned to such significant yet sensitive areas of responsibility possess qualifications and other requirements that are concurrent with a job of that magnitude," National Security Minister John Sandy said on Friday in response to questions raised in Parliament by Diego Martin North East MP Colm Imbert.

Imbert raised concerns about the appointment of Reshmi Ramnarine as SSA Director; she has since resigned. He noted that several government ministers had said Ramnarine was suitable for the post but it turned out that her resume was embellished.

Imbert pointed out that in other countries when appointments to such sensitive posts are to be made "there are a number of established procedures to screen the persons involved, from the lowest level person to the person at the top of the organisation."

Imbert stressed: "We have gone through a debacle and a fiasco and I hope that on the next occasion the proper background checks would be done, the proper reference checks would be done and you would let us know the qualifications and experience record of the person in question."

In response Sandy said the SSA legislation does not outline the qualifications of employment for the post of director.

He said a profile has been developed of "what would constitute the most suitable candidate" and it has been determined that short listed candidates would undergo a rigorous interview process "including interview, psychometric testing and security vetting, and a panel of experts would be responsible for interviewing them".

He added documents of assessment of most suitable candidate would be submitted to Cabinet and once approved, sent to the President for consideration. He promised that in the interest of transparency, the final document will be presented to the nation. 

Sandy also said Government would also ensure that any legislation developed for the operation of intelligence agencies provides "specifically for the recruitment of persons to head such agencies similar to the approach as it obtains for the Commissioner of Police."

He confirmed that Cabinet note 92 was from his Ministry and stated specifically that the SSA director was appointed for a period of six months.