PM MUST EXPLAIN NAT SEC HEADS SENT ON LEAVE

CCNTV6

The Opposition is calling on the Prime Minister, in her role as head of the National Security Council, to explain why Heads of National Security are being sent on leave, especially during a State of Emergency. Rynessa Cutting has more.

Transcript

00:00Former Minister of National Security Marvin Gonzalez is questioning why heads of national security are being sent on leave,

00:08in some cases in the absence of proper protocol.

00:11News came to hand that the chief of defense staff was sent on leave immediately.

00:19When you have the changing of leadership at the level of the chief of defense staff within your military,

00:25there are certain military protocols that normally accompanies that,

00:31where there is a proper handing over, a handing over parade is conducted,

00:37and then you have a smooth transition from one leadership to the other in true military style and military tradition.

00:47But today, under Calamity Jane and UNC Tornado,

00:52all of these things are now thrown out of the window,

00:56and it's instability left, right, and center in Trinidad and Tobago.

01:00The action against the former chief of defense staff follows similar action at the prison service

01:06and the Trinidad and Tobago regiment,

01:08as former prisons commissioner Carlos Corraspe was sent on leave in August,

01:13as too was Army Chief Colonel Keston Charles,

01:16although that decision was quickly rescinded.

01:19We must ask ourselves,

01:22what was the role of the prime minister as chair of the National Security Council on these matters?

01:30These serious and urgent matters of national security,

01:34where the head of your regiment in a state of emergency

01:38was immediately sent on leave,

01:41and two or three days after,

01:44that decision was cancelled,

01:46and he was asked to take back up responsibility and leadership of the Trinidad and Tobago regiment.

01:51All of these matters, ladies and gentlemen,

01:54are taking place

01:55during a state of emergency.

02:01Gonzalez also noted the recent shake-up

02:03at the executive level of the TTPS

02:05and other state enterprises.

02:08So you have attacks taking place

02:10at the professional class.

02:15You now have a level of instability taking place

02:18in the national security services of Trinidad and Tobago

02:21within a state of emergency.

02:24And the PNM opposition today

02:28is calling upon the prime minister

02:30as chair of the National Security Council

02:33to explain to the population

02:36what is taking place

02:39in national security

02:41in this country.

02:43He's calling on the government

02:44to present a holistic national security strategy.

02:48And while all of that is happening,

02:49members of the media,

02:51citizens of Trinidad and Tobago,

02:52nine murders over the last 24 hours.

02:57Nine murders over the last 24 hours.

03:02Renasa Cutting, TV6 News.

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