Ramesh asks Manning: Is PNM Govt unstable?

FORMER Attorney-General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj wants Prime Minister Patrick Manning to tell the country why his administration is “unstable.” At the close of the PNM’s 38th Annual Convention in Chaguaramas on Sunday, the Prime Minister said now that arrangements within the party were stabilised, he would be moving to stabilise arrangements in the Government. Maharaj told Newsday yesterday, that Manning had a duty to say why the Government is unstable because his statement would have aroused concern within the national community.

The former AG claimed that the instability which Manning spoke about could be the reason why the ruling party’s seems unable to bring crime in Trinidad and Tobago under control. He said while Manning and National Security Minister Howard Chin Lee vehemently denied there were terrorist groups in TT three months ago, the move to create the Special Crime Unit (SCU) appears to contradict their earlier statements. Consular information from the United States and Australian governments on October 24 and the latest overseas security report on TT, have identified this country as a safe, secure global destination. Maharaj alleged that formation of the SCU shows that Manning intends “to go the Africa route” where governments silence all those who criticise them.

The former AG said the country’s laws define treason as any physical action taken by individuals or groups to overthrow the government and the Prime Minister’s remarks about reviewing the treason laws, makes it clear that Manning wants to “change that.” He also condemned Manning for criticising local farmers for writing regional governments, asking them not to support TT’s bid to become the headquarters for the Free Trade Areas of the Americas (FTAA) Secretariat. Maharaj said while Manning may not approve of their actions, freedom of expression and freedom of speech were enshrined rights under the Constitution. “Democracy is under threat,” he declared. The former AG reiterated that it was illegal to form the SCU. Manning said the unit could be formed under laws governing the Joint Operational Command Centre and the Special Reserve Police Services. Maharaj said regardless of how the SCU comes into being, the Police Service Act clearly states that only the Commissioner of Police and not SCU commander, Brigadier Peter Joseph, could direct the SCU’s operations. “The law is clear that only a police officer can do a police officer’s work,” he stated. Maharaj added that police officers would not take orders from a soldier. Chin Lee said the SCU has the full support of the Police Service’s top brass.