Rowley denies seeing CoP nominees list

The Prime Minister has rubbished allegations that he was part of a tripartite committee meeting which discussed the selection of a police commissioner, noting that while he was not involved in any process to undermine the independence of any institution, he was free to visit and communicate with the President when necessary.

On Friday, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar called on Dr Rowley to confirm if he visited the President's House to discuss the selection of a commissioner.

Under the Constitution this process can only be done by the Police Service Commission (PSC).

She noted that a motion was filed in Parliament against the Paula-Mae Weekes seeking to remove her as president under suspicion of being politically influenced and therefore unfit to continue in office.

Responding to these allegations during a media briefing at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's, on Saturday, Rowley denied there was any interference in the selection process.

"I want to categorically deny that I had anything to do with the relationship between the President and the Police Service Commission and any action of the service commission in its relationship with the President.

"I will go further. I have never involved myself with any selection of the PSC of any list. I have seen no list whether it is substantive post or acting post.

"All of that business of the State would have been between the PSC and the President and of course as Parliament we did intervene later on indicating to you that later on an error has been made."

He noted that even in independent bodies and institutions like the PSC there must be some level of interaction with the Office of the Prime Minister.

He maintained that both the offices of the Prime Minister and the President must at times work in tandem to address issues of national interest but insisted that these activities would not involve an undermining of each office's independence.

Rowley added that had he not met with the President to discuss matters of importance, he would have failed in his responsibilities as a leader and still criticised by the opposition.

"I can go there seven days a week, 24 hours a day and speak with the President as much as I like and talk anything I want with her and I am under no obligation to tell you until I or the President think it is something for public consumption."

"Interestingly enough if the imbroglio was about the President not being informed about something it would have been the same people who would be making bacchanal that the President was not informed over x, y and z."

He also questioned the merit of the motion filed against the President and accused the Opposition of stirring mischief and confusion.