Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has penned a letter to President Paula-Mae Weekes, calling on her to clear the air about the controversy surrounding the Top Cop selection process.

The letter, which was signed by all 19 Opposition MPs, requests that the President provide an explanation as to why she did not fulfill her constitutional obligation by submitting the Top Cop list of nominees to the House of Representatives for approval.

On Thursday, Senior Counsel Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj called on President Paula-Mae Weekes to provide an explanation as to why she did not submit the Top Cop list of nominees to the House of Representatives for approval.

 Maharaj  says in accordance with Section 123 (4) of the Constitution, Weekes had a duty, upon receiving the list of nominees from the Police Service Commission, to issue a notification to be subjected for approval by the House of Representatives.

“Section 123 (4) of the Constitution makes no provision for the exercise of discretion by the President , in the manner in which she is to treat with the list of nominees submitted to her by the Commission for appointment of the Commissioner of Police. Rather, upon receipt of the list of nominees by the Commission, the President is constitutionally mandated and bound to issue the notifications and to subject same for approval by the Parliament, ” Maharaj said.

He also pointed out that based on the date the list was submitted to President Weekes , there was no delay to warrant her handling of the matter.

“In the circumstances, the President has a duty to explain to the public why upon receiving the list of nominees from the Commission on August 12, she elected not to perform her constitutional duty under Section 123 (4) of the constitution, to submit the requisite notifications to the House of Representatives for its approval,” Maharaj said.