Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal has described the prime minister’s plan to set up a ‘vetted unit’ within the TT Police Service as “unconstitutional and undemocratic.”
On Saturday, at a public meeting in San Fernando, Dr Keith Rowley revealed plans to introduce a new unit in the TTPS to investigate corrupt police officers and government officials.
However, speaking at the United National Congress (UNC) press conference on Sunday, Moonilal said under the Constitution, the Police Commissioner has sole responsibility to establish units in the TTPS, not the Prime Minister.”
Moonilal added: “He (the PM) is proposing a 21st-century mongoose gang in T&T led, initiated, directed, instigated, and promoted by the political directorate to do investigations against political opponents.”
According to the MP, the TTPS’ Professional Standard Bureau (PSB), the Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau (ACIB), the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), and the Integrity Commission already perform similar functions to those of the proposed unit.
“Is Rowley saying he has no confidence in these established institutions and he wants to hand-pick officers to investigate? This is a recipe for disaster,” Moonilal said.
Moonilal also raised concerns over Rowley’s claim that the officers selected for the unit would be specially compensated.
He claimed that such would breach police officers’ constitutional right to equality of treatment.