AG Ramlogan slams PSC for long delay in appointing FIU director

AG Anand Ramlogan - disappointed that PSC took so long to make appointment

Attorney General is "deeply disappointed" that it has taken 10 months for the Public Service Commission (PSC) to appoint a director for the country's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

"I am gravely concerned that a matter of such high priority was met with such inordinate delay," Ramlogan told the Express newspaper.

"I am disappointed that it took so long in light of the fact that the country was facing a grey listing by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and one of their recommendations for a positive change was the immediate filling of that position," he said.

The PSC named Michelle Ann Austin in July last year as its candidate for the post of director and submitted its recommendation to the Prime Minister for her approval.

However Persad-Bissessar used her veto to block the appointment and nominated Susan Francois, the person who has now been confirmed by the PSC. The PSC had said that Austin was the more suitable candidate.

Susan Francois

The PSC stated in a media ad Sunday that after "further consultation with the Prime Minister, it has appointed Susan Francois" for the post. It added that Austin had indicated that she is no longer interested in the position "in light of the continuing veto by the Prime Minister".

Ramlogan called the ad "curious and misleading". He said once the veto decision was made the other name on the list should have been submitted for the Prime Minister's approval. He said the PSC never did that.

The AG, who is in London, told the paper that the previous Prime Minister used his veto twice and in each case the second in line was submitted within weeks.

He questioned the PSC's delay. "The PSC normally demonstrates a high level of efficiency and expedition in such matters, so given the seniority and obvious importance of the office involved, why did the PSC take so long with this?"

The opposition also had a problem with the PSC's move but for a different reason. Senator Fitzgerald Hinds suggested that the PSC has allowed itself to be controlled by the Prime Minister.

"The Government got their way and we are concerned about the insistence by the AG and the Prime Minister to appoint this person," he said.

Opposition Leader Keith Rowley was also critical of the decision. He accused the government of trampling on "the independence of the Public Service Commission."

Rowley did not have any concerns when his former leader, Patrick Manning, used his veto to block a recommendation of the Police Service Commission to appoint Stephen Williams as Commissioner of Police. Rowley fully supported Manning's decision to veto a decision by an independent commission.