Questions surround the hiring of an Arima-based pastor and three family members who previously worked at the Strategic Services Agency (SSA), but were not qualified.
The situation is said to be under scrutiny.
After being called to a meeting on Saturday by Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds, SSA director Major Roger Best was placed on administrative leave due to the questionable hiring of some people within the SSA according to the Express.
He was replaced by Ambassador Anthony Phillips-Spencer, who was recalled from Washington to act as SSA director.
Phillips-Spencer received his instruments of appointment from President Christine Kangaloo at the weekend.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley spoke with the media on the issue at the opening of the Diego Martin Public Library on Monday.
He said that the SSA shake-up was due to a national security threat based on information from the police, and that the Government was forced to intervene.
Phillips-Spencer is tasked with “initiating an extensive review and audit of all personnel, equipment and processes within the SSA”.
The Express quoted intelligence sources as saying that the recruitment allegations involving Best surfaced after several SSA employees raised concerns with officials with the Ministry of National Security that Best was “employing several persons from the same church he attended”.
The Express said intelligence sources yesterday confirmed a pastor, his son and two other relatives were hired at the SSA during the period 2020-2023.
The pastor was allegedly appointed as an adviser to a senior officer within the SSA, while the other relatives got jobs in other departments.