(Trinidad Express) Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams now has the difficult task of having to investigate his boss, National Security Minister Jack Warner.
One month after reports about the resurrection of the Flying Squad first surfaced, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has told Parliament that the National Security Council which she chairs, has referred the reports of Warner and former Strategic Adviser at the National Security Ministry Gavin Heerah on the issue of the new Flying Squad to the acting Commissioner of Police to determine who was wrong and whether anyone violated the law.
“I wish to report that after full discussion and careful deliberations, the National Security Council took the decision to refer the said reports (of Warner and Heerah) for an investigation into any alleged wrongdoings, unlawful conduct and/or action by any or all persons purported to be involved in this matter,” the Prime Minister said in a statement to Parliament yesterday.
Warner is Williams’ line Minister.
The Commissioner is on record as early as February 3 as saying that he was investigating the issue of whether or not there was a new Flying Squad. He said then: “I would like to give the public the assurance that I am going to get to the bottom of what has been revealed. This matter will be immediately investigated…Anything illegal, I have to investigate.”
However the instructions from the National Security Council for him (the Commissioner) to investigate, following the receipt of “the written reports reports from the (two) relevant officials” — Warner and Heerah, would require him to determine whether his boss was involved or not.
The Prime Minister yesterday once again distanced herself, her Cabinet and the National Security Council from any decision, knowledge or participation in the alleged revamping of the Flying Squad. “I again report that there has been no direct or implied approval ever given by the National Security Council or by the Cabinet for the establishment of any such unit. I have no knowledge of any such alleged activity,” she said.
The Prime Minister said Warner who has steadfastly denied that he was “instrumental” in establishing any new Flying Squad, submitted a report consistent with this position.
The Prime Minister did not say what Heerah’s report said. She noted however that Heerah was the person “who it was alleged had provided some interface with the persons who were desirous of the reintroducing a Flying Squad”.
Mervyn Cordner, former Flying Squad member has steadfastly insisted that the new Flying Squad Investigating Unit (comprising himself and about 75 men) had been operating for six months, that it was given specific assignments as it assisted in the fight against crime. Warner had spoken of bringing back the Flying Squad last June. But the e-mail trail links Mervyn Cordner to Heerah.
Williams, who had stated that he was tired of saying to the media that he knew nothing of the existence of a Flying Squad, was questioned about it by the Police Service Commission. And he was also questioned about it by the Police Complaints Authority.
Statement by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on the Flying Squad issue in Parliament yesterday: Mr Speaker, as Members of the Parliament and the national community are aware, the issue of an alleged establishment of a new or revived “Flying Squad” has been in the public domain, ventilated extensively in the print and electronic media. This issue has been attracting widespread public comment, including speculation and generating misleading conclusions by some. On my return from the Caricom Summit in Haiti last week, I reported to the nation that crime in the region was one of the central topics of discussions among Caricom leaders, and that we had the opportunity to engage directly with the United States Attorney General, Mr Eric Holder. I also pointed out that during my absence, I was kept abreast of more recent media reports. I further indicated in my news conference at the airport, that as Prime Minister, it was incumbent on me to obtain a full report from the Ministry of National Security on all matters involving that Ministry, and the alleged reintroduction of a “Flying Squad”. Yesterday, Thursday, February 28th, 2013, the National Security Council under my Chairmanship met at our regular meeting, and amongst the several matters discussed was the issue of the alleged “Flying Squad” and the establishment of same. The Council had before it the report I had requested from the Minister of National Security, hon. Jack Warner. He also had a report from Mr. Gavin Heerah, former Strategic Advisor at the Ministry of National Security, a person whom it was alleged had provided some interface with the persons who were desirous of the reintroducing a “Flying Squad” to help in combating crime in Trinidad and Tobago. Mr. Warner has consistently denied that he was instrumental in establishing any new “Flying Squad”. His report to the National Security Council reflected this. So today, Mr. Speaker, I wish to report that after full discussion and careful deliberations, the National Security Council took the decision to refer the said reports to Commissioner of Police, for an investigation into any alleged wrongdoings, unlawful conduct and/or action by any or all persons purported to be involved in this matter. As Chairman of the National Security Council, I wish to emphasise that this course of action was taken at the very first meeting of the National Security Council, upon receipt of the written reports from the relevant officials. Therefore, I again repeat that there has been no direct or implied approval ever given by the National Security Council or by the Cabinet for the establishment of any such unit. I have no knowledge of any such alleged activity. Mr. Speaker, I want to make it very clear, these are allegations and this is why the National Security Council took the decision to refer it to the Commissioner of Police for investigation. I also state unequivocally, that as Prime Minister, any initiative considered by my Cabinet for combating crime will always be fully and completely within the Laws and Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago, and under the jurisdiction, where appropriate, of the Commissioner of Police.
