Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar told reporters on Monday the cabinet did not authorise Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs to lease an aircraft to be used for surveillance. She added that the National Security Council, which she chairs, also did not give Gibbs the authorisation.
She explained that Gibbs was within his right to make “certain expenditures” without seeking approval from Cabinet or Parliament.
Persad-Bissessar spoke with the media in Debe following the formal commencement of work on the South Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI).
She explained that Gibbs was within his right to make “certain expenditures” without seeking approval from Cabinet or Parliament.
Persad-Bissessar spoke with the media in Debe following the formal commencement of work on the South Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI).
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| PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Tertiary Education Minister Fazal Karim show off a drawing of the new South Campus. |
She said she has asked National Security Minister John Sandy to prepare a report on matter. The Opposition said in parliament last Friday the Zenith Air scout surveillance aircraft has been leased for 12 weeks $902,772.
Persad-Bissessar said: “I have absolutely no knowledge of that matter. It was never a matter which came to the Government or to the Cabinet and therefore the best person to answer would be the Commissioner of Police.
"I have asked the Minister of National Security to obtain a report about the matter, so I have no knowledge whatsoever, except what I read in the newspapers and heard in Parliament last Friday.”
She added, “As you know the Commissioner of Police is now much more than an accounting officer and my advice is like any permanent secretary and accounting officer he has the jurisdiction to make certain expenditures without seeking the approval of the National Security Council or of the Cabinet.
“I have asked Minister Sandy to obtain a report and only then can I comment on the matter. I knew nothing, as I say, of it, until the matter came out in Parliament and the papers.”
Persad-Bissessasr also dismissed opposition charges that she has been using a national security helicopter for travelling around the country.
“That is totally not true. The statements are false, mischievous and misleading. The chopper is used by myself and others from time-to-time. I didn’t come here with a chopper, did I?" she asked.
"This was really designed to bring the office into disrepute. The helicopters are there. They have been used, as they have been used in the past, by myself and other Ministers of Government."
She also denied that the government is refurbishing the aircraft to make them luxury helicopters.
"There was no work to upgrade the helicopter in anyway. They (the opposition) mentioned an icebox. I am advised that the icebox was purchased with the chopper when it was bought in 2004. We are now in 2012. These statements are totally false, misleading and very mischievous.”
Persad-Bissessar said: “I have absolutely no knowledge of that matter. It was never a matter which came to the Government or to the Cabinet and therefore the best person to answer would be the Commissioner of Police.
"I have asked the Minister of National Security to obtain a report about the matter, so I have no knowledge whatsoever, except what I read in the newspapers and heard in Parliament last Friday.”
She added, “As you know the Commissioner of Police is now much more than an accounting officer and my advice is like any permanent secretary and accounting officer he has the jurisdiction to make certain expenditures without seeking the approval of the National Security Council or of the Cabinet.
“I have asked Minister Sandy to obtain a report and only then can I comment on the matter. I knew nothing, as I say, of it, until the matter came out in Parliament and the papers.”
Persad-Bissessasr also dismissed opposition charges that she has been using a national security helicopter for travelling around the country.
“That is totally not true. The statements are false, mischievous and misleading. The chopper is used by myself and others from time-to-time. I didn’t come here with a chopper, did I?" she asked.
"This was really designed to bring the office into disrepute. The helicopters are there. They have been used, as they have been used in the past, by myself and other Ministers of Government."
She also denied that the government is refurbishing the aircraft to make them luxury helicopters.
"There was no work to upgrade the helicopter in anyway. They (the opposition) mentioned an icebox. I am advised that the icebox was purchased with the chopper when it was bought in 2004. We are now in 2012. These statements are totally false, misleading and very mischievous.”
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