The Opposition leader is now calling on President Paula-Mae Weekes to resign over what she says is the allowance of political interference in the Police Service Commission.

In a statement today, Kamla Persad Bissessar says based on Her Excellency’s recent nomination of Attorney-at-law Ernest Koylass, it is abundantly clear that there is no intention of maintaining the critical independence of the PSC. 

She said: “A quick Google search revealed significant ties to high-ranking members of the ruling People’s National Movement.”

“According to a report in the Trinidad Guardian on 25^th January 2012 then Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley “warmly welcomed” Mr Koylass to join the “PNM family” at a PNM cottage meeting in Moruga.  In 2017, Mr Koylass represented the then Minister of Housing in a legal matter against homeless residents.”

She added: “Mr Koylass has a right to choose his political associations, but by no stretch of the imagination can he be considered free of political conflicts of interest. The fact that the Police Service Commission collapsed due to the dark spectre of political interference hanging over it makes the selection of Mr Koylass extremely alarming.”

“Her Excellency is either wilfully seeking to obstruct the functioning of an independent PolSC through blatant political partisan appointments, or she is now taking instructions directly from the Rowley Government,” she said.

Last Friday, Persad-Bissessar wrote a letter to President Weekes signed by all 19 Opposition MPs, calling on Her Excellency to account for the handling of the PSC controversy. 

The Opposition Leader also called on the President to detail whether the merit list was discussed with Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley.