Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said on Monday night her People's Partnership Government made a mistake in appointing Reshmi Usha Ramnarine to head the Strategic Services Agency (SSA).
She was speaking with reporters following a speech delivered at a function hosted by the NGO Vision on a Mission at which she was handed the "Woman of History Award 2011" by organisation.
She said meetings were held to deal with several critical issues including anti-crime initiatives and an interim acting Director for the Security Services Agency (SSA). "We are doing everything we can to ensure that the misstep that was made doesn't happen again," the Trinidad Express quoted her as saying.
She also said it may not be a good idea to go to Parliament for approval for the next appointment. "I do not think we can afford to wait another year to put those special constitutional arrangements in place at this point in time," she said.
Persad-Bissessar promised that Government will spend time on finding the right person for the job. She said this means that "we will have an interim person which will allow for a longer period of time in which to source the best person for the job".
Government would have to do research to see what happens in other parts of the world when appointing other security heads, she said.
The Prime Minister also conceded that her government needs to improve on the job it's doing and was emphatic that she does not blame the media for publishing the story about the Reshmi Ramnarine "misstep".
"I don't blame the media...I hold no hostility towards anyone in the media. They got a story and they ran with their story, so I say there is always room for improvement. On the part of Government, there is always room for improvement, and we will continue to try to improve at what we do."
The Trinidad Express first broke the story and followed up with several other exclusive stories on the SSA matter. Ramnarine resigned within days of her appointment being made public.
It turned out later that she had an embellished resume and did not have some of the stated academic credentials, including an IT degree from the University of the West Indies. Government ministers who defended her were forced to retract statements and apologise.
She was speaking with reporters following a speech delivered at a function hosted by the NGO Vision on a Mission at which she was handed the "Woman of History Award 2011" by organisation.
She said meetings were held to deal with several critical issues including anti-crime initiatives and an interim acting Director for the Security Services Agency (SSA). "We are doing everything we can to ensure that the misstep that was made doesn't happen again," the Trinidad Express quoted her as saying.
She also said it may not be a good idea to go to Parliament for approval for the next appointment. "I do not think we can afford to wait another year to put those special constitutional arrangements in place at this point in time," she said.
Persad-Bissessar promised that Government will spend time on finding the right person for the job. She said this means that "we will have an interim person which will allow for a longer period of time in which to source the best person for the job".
Government would have to do research to see what happens in other parts of the world when appointing other security heads, she said.
The Prime Minister also conceded that her government needs to improve on the job it's doing and was emphatic that she does not blame the media for publishing the story about the Reshmi Ramnarine "misstep".
"I don't blame the media...I hold no hostility towards anyone in the media. They got a story and they ran with their story, so I say there is always room for improvement. On the part of Government, there is always room for improvement, and we will continue to try to improve at what we do."
The Trinidad Express first broke the story and followed up with several other exclusive stories on the SSA matter. Ramnarine resigned within days of her appointment being made public.
It turned out later that she had an embellished resume and did not have some of the stated academic credentials, including an IT degree from the University of the West Indies. Government ministers who defended her were forced to retract statements and apologise.
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