Smart’s leave buy-out looks a bit peculiar

As opposition leader he said all the things necessary to take his party to power.

Now citizens are realising what an extraordinary leader Kamla Persad- Bissessar was — a caring and compassionate person; a leader for all of TT .

The Rowley-led Cabinet took a decision last week to buy out six months vacation leave of Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier General Rodney Smart.

What is the perception here? Keith Rowley as opposition leader objected vehemently when the PP government decided to buy out the vacation of members of the Police Service in 2014.

In fact, in December 2015, PM Rowley was adamant that there would be no more leave buy-outs for permanent secretaries. He reiterated that all buy-outs for public servants will end on December 31, 2015.

Suddenly, however, two days after Acting Commissioner of Police Harold Phillip ordered an investigation into how the children of Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi came to be holding high-powered military weapons belonging to the Defence Force, the population is told of the Cabinet’s decision to buy out six months of Smart’s leave.

This investigation will rely heavily on the corroboration and supporting evidence from the Defence Force and more particularly from Smart, who is directing the Defence Force’s own investigation into how the AG’s children came to be in possession of assault weapons at the army base in Cumuto.

Is the decision of the Cabinet, two days after the start of the investigation, a coincidence? Even if the investigation clears the AG, the actions of the Rowley- led Cabinet will always be seen as bringing a direct influence to bear on Smart.

Rowley and this PNM-led administration cannot continue to manage the affairs of TT as though this is PNM country.

Democracy is under threat in TT .

CAPIL BISSOON via email