(Trinidad Guardian) Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams is expected to answer questions today about his involvement in last Saturday’s incident involving former minister in the Ministry of National Security Collin Partap. In a brief telephone interview on Monday, Williams refused to answer questions on the matter. He said he would entertain all questions during today’s media briefing at the Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain.
Although Williams declined to answer questions, he confirmed that Partap was administered a breathalyser and had been “found to be within the legal limit.” A statement on Sunday from the Office of the Prime Minister said Partap had been fired after reports from the Ministry of National Security and Partap himself. Partap was reportedly stopped by police around 5 am on Sunday at the corner of Keate and Frederick Streets, Port-of-Spain, after leaving the Zen nightclub.
The T&T Guardian learned that police from the Belmont station stopped a black Prado which had been outfitted with a police-issued blue swivel light and siren. Partap, who was among the occupants of the Prado, was taken to the Belmont station. Williams later arrived at the station and spoke to Partap, after which the former minister agreed to take the breathalyser test. He was found to be within the legal limit, which is 35 microgrammes for every 100 millilitres of breath. Calls to Partap’s cellphone on Monday went unanswered. A source said the van Partap was driving is registered to the Office of the Attorney General, and was often used by Special Branch officers. Officials at the Ministry of National Security were unable to confirm if the van had been returned on Monday.
When contacted around 5 pm, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan was unable to speak as he was in a meeting. Questioned on the matter during a tour of Port-of-Spain Licensing Division on Monday as to whether or not Partap had the authority to drive a vehicle that had blue lights and a police siren on it, as had been issued by the Licensing Authority, Trans-port Commissioner Reuben Cato said: “That is a question for the Ministry of National Security. “As far as I know, it was a police vehicle and the police have the authority to carry the blue swivel lights and the siren…With respect to the use of the vehicle, that is a question for the Ministry of National Security, the police or anybody under that ministry.” Meanwhile, ASP Joanne Archie said the media briefing hosted by the Police Service had been moved from daily to weekly to facilitate senior officials who were seeking new ways of gathering and disseminating information to the media. Archie said the daily briefing began as an initiative to establish and maintain a harmonious relationship with the media and to also sensitise the public on the roles and responsibilities of the Police Service. The media briefing will now be held every Wednesday at 11 am at the same venue—the Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain.
