Ramadhar writes Rowley over news reports

Ramadhar said copies of his letter have also been sent to President Anthony Carmona, the Police Service Commission, Police Complaints Authority, Integrity Commission and Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP.) He said the story in last Sunday’s press had alleged that ACP Ainsley Garrick had been transferred for declining to charge a police constable over alleged links to terrorism.

The story alleged that the directive to charge the constable was made after a lengthy meeting of protective services top brass attended by a politician. Ramadhar said the news story made him extremely alarmed at the possibility of misbehaviour in public office and/or perverting the course of justice.

Saying no politician must direct any officer, so as not to breach the idea of the separation of powers, he said his letter has asked Rowley to investigate these allegations.

His letter said that a politician’s instruction to the police to lay charges on someone who has been investigated and absolved would suggest a direct attack on the independence of institutions and a danger to democracy.

He read, “The refusal of the head of Special Branch to follow that instruction must be commended.

However the subsequent transfer apparently because of his refusal is unlawful and wrong.” Ramadhar himself remarked, “For a policeman to be transferred suggests pressure on the police that if they don’t follow instructions they’ll be charged too.” In reply to reporters’ questions, Ramadhar said he had not spoken to any of the parties in the matter, nor issued any deadline to Rowley to do his probe.