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  • 5 months ago
Both the ruling UNC government and the opposition People's National Movement this afternoon supported the nomination of Alister Guevarro for the job of Commissioner of Police .

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in her endorsement of Guevarro's nomination said she would not subvert the law in this process - as the previous government had done with the Merit List from the Police Service Commission.

Mark Bassant has this report.
Transcript
00:00Top of the news, both the ruling UNC government and the opposition People's National Movement this afternoon
00:05supported the nomination of Alistair Guevaro for the job of police commissioner.
00:12Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Visasa in her endorsement of Guevaro's nomination
00:16said she would not subvert the law in this process as the previous government had done
00:22with the merit list from the Police Saviors Commission.
00:25Mark Vasant has the story.
00:27When we come to Mr. Guevaro, you have read his resume, our colleague read the resume,
00:36and therefore all we can say is that I, together with my team, we have agreed we will not subvert the merit list,
00:45we will not subvert the recommendation of the Police Service Commission,
00:50and that we've done our research and we have no reason to doubt that this is a good nominee
00:55and therefore the government will support the notification as recommended.
01:01We'll conduct himself with all due integrity.
01:04We have no reason to doubt that it would be otherwise,
01:07and therefore we give full support to Mr. Guevaro as the next commissioner of police of Trinidad and Tobago.
01:13Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Visasa throwing her total support for commissioner of police nominee,
01:21Alistair Guevaro, earlier this afternoon at the sitting of the House of Representatives.
01:25She chided former minister in the Ministry of National Security Marvin Gonzalez
01:29and the former government for sitting idly by as the safety and security of citizens
01:34were compromised for nine years with $66 billion spent on national security,
01:41while the image of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and the office of the commissioner were allegedly tarnished.
01:46The Prime Minister accused the former PNM government of subverting the law
01:50when it came to the process of nominating a police commissioner over their last two terms.
01:56And therefore on every occasion that that government had the opportunity to deal with a notification
02:02or to deal with putting people into office, they have attempted to subvert it.
02:08In 2015, the case of Haridat Maraj, I know it well because I was one of the lawyers.
02:13When that government attempted to subvert the very law that gives rise to putting a commissioner of police in place
02:24by inserting the then minister of national security into the process.
02:28So that is why we are here today with this notification,
02:31that this government will follow the law and not attempt to subvert the law
02:35when it comes to putting a commissioner of police in place.
02:39The Prime Minister cited several examples of the previous COP nomination process
02:44botched by the previous government that included Stephen Williams, Harold Philip,
02:49Diodat Dularchan, Haridat Maharaj and Wendell Lucas.
02:54She also pointed to the Gary Griffith fiasco and then Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley.
02:59The motion was moved by Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander
03:02who spoke about Guevara's track record within the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
03:07and is 27 years in special branch.
03:09MP Farruka Lopino, Marvin Gonzalez, speaking before the Prime Minister,
03:14said that the opposition endorsed the nominee as well
03:17and reminded Senior Superintendent Guevara of his responsibilities.
03:21And therefore I believe that he is a worthy candidate
03:25to fill the position of commission of police in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
03:31And I will also take the opportunity to let him know
03:35that we expect him to continue to discharge his duties professionally and independently.
03:44Especially when you have so many people occupying high offices in Trinidad and Tobago
03:50who are subject to the law.
03:53MP for Port of Spain South, Keith Scotland,
03:56shot back at the Prime Minister's references to the former government
03:59subvoiting the law when it came to Haridath, Maharaj and others.
04:03We put on record that once the court ruled in the matter of Maharaj
04:11and the Attorney General on the 14th of October 2021,
04:17that the process being followed then as we understood it
04:20for the appointment of acting commissioners were not in accordance with the law.
04:27The then-government, now this opposition,
04:31acted in accordance forthwith with the court's pronouncement
04:35and thereafter followed that procedure as outlined by the court to the letter.
04:41Mark Passant, TV6 News.
04:44The TV6 People Meter, brought to you by XL Health TT,
04:48the official supplements of the CPS.
04:50Now, to our People Meter, we ask,
04:55do you agree with the choice of Alistair Govaro for Commissioner of Police?
05:00To vote, text yes or no to the number 766-4886 or 766-4TV6
05:06and we'll have the results for you at the end of the newscast.
05:09Following his nomination, Senior Superintendent Govaro spoke via WhatsApp
05:18with TV6's Mark Passant about his unanimous endorsement in the House of Representatives.
05:25Govaro said he was humbled and thanked God for his guidance throughout the journey.
05:31He extended respect to the other candidates in what he described
05:34as a transparent and rigorous selection process.
05:39Govaro said their dedication and commitment to the TTPS
05:42serves as an example to younger officers
05:45who want to become future leaders within the noble profession.
05:50He said, quote,
05:50I am grateful to the Honorable Members of Parliament
05:53for their confidence in my leadership
05:55and to the citizens of TNT for their continued support, end quote.
06:00Govaro told TV6 as he awaits the next step in the process,
06:04he remains fully committed to upholding the vision of the police service
06:09to make every place in TNT safe.
06:12He said he's mindful of the serious issues engaging public concern,
06:17including school violence, rising criminal activity,
06:20the imperative to strengthen public trust in policing,
06:24gang influence in vulnerable communities,
06:27firearm-related crime and road safety challenges.
06:31Govaro looks forward to partnering with stakeholders
06:33across society to address these matters
06:36with integrity, transparency and resolve.
06:40And the incoming top cop said
06:42it is his intention to work closely with the media.
06:45Okay.
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