Rajnauth: Lalla gave his consent and approval

Head of the Public Service and Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister, Zaida Rajnauth, stated yesterday that she was advised by the director of personnel administration, Mikey Mahabir, that Head of the Police Service Commission, Kenneth Lalla had given his consent and approval for the letter of appointment of the CoP to be given to the Prime Minister, to be personally handed over to Snaggs. Rajnauth was commenting on the statement made by Lalla that when he agreed to have CoP Everald Snagg’s letter of appointment given to Rajnauth, he never contemplated nor was informed that Prime Minister Patrick Manning was going to be involved.

But Rajnauth stated that she told Mahabir why she was requesting the letter of him — that the Prime Minister wanted to hand the letter to Snaggs. “I did indicate to Mr Mahabir the reason I was asking for the letter to be sent to me. And I was advised that the approval of the chairman of the PSC was obtained prior to the letter being sent to me. And it was in those circumstances that I gave the letter to the Prime Minister,” she stated. Told that Lalla stated that had he known the Prime Minister would have been involved in the process he would have resisted, Rajnauth reiterated: “I did convey the reason I wanted the letter sent to me. And I was advised that the request that the letter be sent to me and the reason that I gave were conveyed to the chairman and that he gave his approval (for both) before the letter was sent. So in handing the letter to the Prime Minister I was under the impression that all clearance had been obtained.

I did not speak to Mr Lalla myself. I was advised by the DPA that Mr Lalla’s consent was given to the letter being sent to me in the circumstance under which I asked for the letter. I was advised that Mr Lalla was advised why I sent for the letter. So to say that he didn’t know has me flabbergasted. I did not speak to Mr Lalla but this is what I was advised by the DPA— that he discussed with Mr Lalla my request and the reason for my request and Mr Lalla gave his consent.” Lalla, in an interview on Monday, categorically denied that he gave prior approval to having the Prime Minister hand over the letter personally to the Commissioner of Police. “That is totally false. I reject that statement,” he said stressing that there was  “no mention whatsoever” that the “destination” of the letter would be the Prime Minister. He reiterated that the normal procedure was that the letter is signed by the DPA and sent to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security. He said he agreed to having the letter sent to Rajnauth because as the Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister, she is also head of the Public Service and therefore has “superior status” to that of the PS in National Security.