(Trinidad Express) There were conflicting reports over the qualifications and appointment of the new spy chief on Friday, with Minister of National Security John Sandy and acting President Timothy Hamel-Smith naming different agencies to which Reshmi Usha Ramnarine was appointed.
In addressing the Parliament on Friday, Sandy said following consultations with members of the National Security Council and Cabinet, Ramnarine, whom he described as being a University of the West Indies (UWI) graduate, was appointed as director of the Strategic Services Agency (SSA).
However, a release from the Office of the President yesterday confirmed that she was appointed to the post of director of the Security Intelligence Agency (SIA).
“His Excellency, Senator Timothy Hamel-Smith, acting President of the Republic, issued the instrument of appointment to the new SIA Director on Friday 14th January, 2011,” a release from the Office of the President said.
However, Sandy’s statement did little to quell concerns of employees attached to the SIA on Friday about Ramnarine’s inexperience for the post. Sources said the employees maintained that Ramnarine does not have the expertise, experience or educational background to preside over such a sensitive post, even if it is for a six-month period. The employees were also extremely concerned over the appointment, since according to the Interception Act, only three persons can order that wiretapping be conducted—the Chief of Defence Staff, Commissioner of Police and the Director of the SIA.
Noting that Ramnarine is not qualified to head a government spy agency, the source said intelligence analysis or intelligence operations are two major areas in the world of intelligence gathering, experience which Ramnarine lacks.
Responding to the support Ramnarine has from Cabinet ministers, as reflected during Friday’s Parliament sitting, the source denied Ramnarine has been employed at the SIA for the past nine years.
“This is absolutely incorrect,” the source said.
In 2007, Ramnarine sent her CV to numerous media houses seeking employment.
Among the objectives listed on her cover letter then was her intention to do a BSc in Geography and the Environment which was “carded to begin in September 2007.“ At the time, Ramnarine listed herself as being employed on a three-year contract as a Technical Operator III at Research Associates of T&T.
In addressing Parliament on Friday, Sandy said that Ramnarine was a graduate of UWI, but failed to state what field and what qualification(s) she obtained while at the institution.
In his address to Parliament last evening, however, Foreign Affairs Minister Surujrattan Rambachan said Ramnarine possesses a BSc in Information Technology and is currently a second year student at UWI pursuing a degree in Psychology.
However, sources called immediately after hearing the statement to raise questions about when Ramnarine would have been able to earn her degree, having been employed full-time at SIA. As a full time employee, they argued, she would have had to pursue the degree as a part-time student at best, which takes longer than the stipulated three-year period.
Commenting on the issue last evening, former prime minister Basdeo Panday called on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to clear the air on the appointment.
In a telephone interview with the Express, Panday said: “The Prime Minister owes it to indicate to the public the reason behind such an important appointment. Why was this person hired? And unless we can have from the Prime Minister the criteria and qualifications which led to this appointment, then we can see whether she [Ramnarine] is qualified.”
Efforts to contact Ramnarine were unsuccessful as calls to her cellphone went unanswered last evening.
