(Trinidad Guardian) Former Strategic Services Agency (SSA) head Reshmi Ramnarine yesterday confessed to changing her name legally to Shashi Rehka in May last year for security reasons but she denied being employed by the Government. And, the backstabbing from both “close friends” and politicians all played a part in her decision. It has all been revealed tell-all style in a letter addressed to the House Speaker Wade Mark dated yesterday which was obtained by Sunday Guardian.
The admission came one day after Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley dropped the ‘bombshell’ in the House of Representatives on Friday when he piloted a motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister. Rowley revealed that Ramnarine had changed her name by a deed poll and alleged that she was employed at a certain ministry. But while admitting to the name change, Ramnarine took issue with the allegation of her being employed at the ministry.
Accusing Rowley of abusing parliamentary privilege, Ramnarine demanded an apology from him. She insisted that he made “false” and “baseless” allegations to tarnish her reputation. Ramnarine, Sunday Guardian understands, is now seeking legal advice on the matter following the revelation.
“Dr Rowley’s statements are untrue and designed to persecute me for political gain, and, in my respectful view constitute an abuse of parliamentary privilege since he used this sacred position to unleash an unfounded and malicious attack upon me, a private citizen entitled by law to all rights enshrined in the Constitution.”
It was the overnight appointment of Ramnarine to head the SSA that sparked months of controversy after her qualifications were questioned. She subsequently resigned from the post. Ramnarine further stated that since her resignation she had become the subject of a smear campaign by members of the media and politicians.
“Since my resignation I have been the subject of a smear campaign propelled by persons in the media who I once counted as close friends, as well as politicians who sought to score political points by using me as a political football. “The smear campaign has resulted in me being falsely accused of serious criminal conduct and my personal safety being threatened by those I had formally monitored.
“In order to protect myself as a private citizen from security risks and continued public and personal maligning and victimisation, I decided to have my name changed,” she stated in the letter to House Speaker Mark. Denying that she was employed or contracted with any government organisation or ministry, Ramnarine stated the following:
• That I changed my name because of security reasons arising from those I formally monitored, which were criminal elements involved in some of the most serious crimes committed in the country as the Strategic Intelligence Agency (SIA) was a part of the People’s National Movement (PNM) Government’s fight against crime;
• That my resignation became necessary after my position in the SIA and personal safety was compromised;
• That since my resignation became necessary after my position in the SIA and personal safety was compromised;
• That since my resignation I have not been employed by nor contracted to or in any way ensconced in the government with a contracted job or a job of any form. In fact, I am currently unemployed;
• Since my resignation I have had no contact with any political member of the United National Congress, Congress of the People, PNM or other political organisations.
Ramnarine further claimed that also contributing to the decision to change her name was the difficulty she had obtaining employment. She stated that since her resignation in March 2011 she has been unable to obtain employment with the exception of a two-month stint at a private company. She also claimed that her decision to remain silent on her controversial appointment was because she resumed her life as a private citizen.
