Gopee-Scoon has confidence in commercial officers, including fired ex-minister

MINISTER OF Trade and Industry Paula Gopee-Scoon expressed confidence in the commercial officers and attachés appointed to represent Trinidad and Tobago in international trade and investments in various countries.

Among those selected was former sports minister Darryl Smith, who was fired for interfering in the public service in 2020, leading to the improper dismissal of an employee.

Smith will be based in the US with responsibility for the US and Canada.

On Monday, the ministry announced it had appointed five commercial officers and commercial attachés who will be responsible for developing overseas markets and boosting exports to key strategic trading partners.

Asked about Smith’s departure as sport minister, Gopee-Scoon said she would not “respond to insinuations,” adding that the process for the appointments was a fair one.

“Mr Smith applied and would have gone through two interviews and was deemed to have been successful,” she said. “The MTI is confident that all of the newly appointed officers are fit and ready to undertake their roles and responsibilities. We certainly look forward to the trade and investment benefits to be gained from these appointments.”

Around the time Smith was dismissed, there were reports of sexual misconduct against him.

The Prime Minister clarified that Smith was not fired for the alleged misconduct.

He said Smith gave reasons to the permanent secretary for an employee's termination, citing dissatisfaction with the employee’s performance.

But when the permanent secretary wrote a letter of dismissal and the complaints made by the minister, he went to the permanent secretary and ordered the causes for dismissal taken out so the incident would not affect her ability to get another job.

“The permanent secretary did that, violating the industrial-relations understanding (that) you cannot fire someone and not say what the cause is. The person went to the union and the Industrial Court, which ruled against the government. The ministry paid for the improper dismissal.”

Along with Smith, the new commercial offices are Vincent Ramlochan, who will be based in Panama, and Adanna Taylor, who will be stationed in the United Kingdom and will have the responsibility for Europe.