Sharma writes CoP on conflicting reports story

FYZABAD MP Chandresh Sharma yesterday said he dispatched a letter to Police Commissioner Trevor Paul, enquiring how Newsday obtained two conflicting police reports about an incident between himself and Housing Minister Dr Keith Rowley in the Parliament’s tea room last Wednesday. But Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday declined to comment about the Newsday story. In his letter to Paul, Sharma said: “This represents a serious breach of police responsibility which could only serve to bring the police into disrepute.” The UNC MP demanded that Paul must launch an immediate investigation into this matter.

Sharma claimed he did not make the entries contained in the police diary, had no control over what entries were made, and the diary’s contents could only be made available by way of a certified extract for use in court. He said even lawyers have problems obtaining these extracts. The UNC MP claimed that while the contents of a diary may differ from the actual statements made by complainants or witnesses, this did not impugn their respective characters. However, while Sharma demanded an explanation from the Police Commissioner, Panday told Newsday yesterday there was “nothing to say” about the fact that Sharma filed two different reports with the police.

“The matter is before the Privileges Committee (of Parliament),” he said. The UNC leader added that the matter will be determined either by the Committee, or through the courts. The Privileges Committee will sit on October 1. The Committee’s members include House Speaker Barry Sinanan (chairman), Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis, Health Minister John Rahael, Public Utilities Minister Pennelope Beckles, Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Princes Town MP Subhas Panday. However, sources indicated that Persad-Bissessar may opt out of the Committee because she is one of two attorneys (the other is Singh) representing Sharma.