New PolSC approved despite Opposition raising concerns about 3 nominees

Five new members of the Police Service Commission (PolSC) have been approved by the Parliament.

Debate on the nominees, whose names were submitted by President Christine Kangaloo, took place in the Lower House yesterday, with the opposition raising concern about most nominees.

The new Police Service Commission now comprises Dr Wendell Wallace, Annika Fritz-Browne, Ethel Hector-Berkeley, Roger Babooram, and returning member Ian Ramdhanie.

During the debate, Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal expressed concern on behalf of the Opposition bench regarding the nominations of Wallace, Babooram and Ramdhanie.

He said in the case of Wallace, it was his position on the Election and Boundaries Commission. He added that there was no mention of this on the CV sent by the President.

He said the EBC is supposed to be the pillar of this country’s democracy, “and the men and women who participate in that ought not to be in other arms of the State.”

However, in his response, National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said Wallace’s position on the EBC was stated in a November 6 letter to the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader as well as listed on his CV.

“We demand an apology in the name of Dr Wallace and we condemn the malignment of an innocent and clean and upright citizen who has offered himself in service of this country,” he said.

He also said someone serving on the EBC, as well as the PSC, is no threat to the separation of powers.

In terms of Ian Ramdhanie, Moonilal said the Opposition Leader wrote to the President on November 12 expressing concern that a company he works with conducts significant business with the Police Service.

But, Hinds said, “the fear that they tried to conjure up in the minds of the unwitting public that because Mr Ramdhanie might have some business and attachment with some firm that may do business with the Police Service and because he is acting as part of the Police Service Commission for the appointment of commissioner and deputies is a problem, it is very disingenuous, to say the least.”

Moonilal said there were also concerns about Roger Babooram and evidence he would have given in an Industrial Court matter involving the OWTU and the Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago while serving as a human resource analyst.

However, the National Security Minister said the Government is confident that all the nominees were suitably qualified to serve on the PSC.

After the vote was taken, all nominees were approved.

Wallace will serve as the PSC Chairman.

When contacted by Guardian Media, Wallace said, “It is always a pleasure and honour to serve Trinidad and Tobago.”

The outgoing members of the Commission are retired Justice of Appeal Judith Jones, Maxine Attong, Maxine King and Rajiv Persad.

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