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alexk
Guest
United National Congress MPs Ganga Singh and Dr Fuad Khan weren’t pleased they had to toe UNC’s party line and abstain from voting for Gary Griffith’s appointment to the Police Commissioner post on Monday and Bhoe Tewarie was also uncomfortable with abstaining.
In fact, just before Monday’s Parliamentary vote on the issue, Khan considered breaking party ranks and Tewarie sent a note to UNC’s whip on his discomfort.
“....We made an error in not supporting Gary Griffith,” Singh crowned off comments yesterday.
In Monday’s debate, Griffith was approved for the post by 19 majority Government votes. Thirteen Opposition MPs abstained. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley removed the “whip” from his team, allowing them a conscience vote.
But this didn’t apply on the Opposition side, which caucused prior to the debate and agreed to abstain.
When votes were requested from UNC MPs, Khan’s face showed distinct displeasure. He had to be asked three times what his position was before he mumbled, “Abstain.”
After the session, Khan was hugged by Government’s (Lower) House leader Camille Robinson-Regis, whom he said commiserated with his position.
admitted yesterday he was torn between his friendship with Griffith and the need to toe the UNC’s line.
“I was angry because Gary’s a friend of mine, an excellent National Security Minister and proven capability in dealing with criminal elements.
“Abstention created nothing but it was party line I had to follow, though just before the vote I seriously considered breaking ranks to support Griffith, as the Prime Minister made a good defence of Gary for the post. Gary’s always been my choice. But no one can fault me for following the party line ahead of my personal feelings.”
Khan felt a political agenda was involved in the choice since the People’s National Movement was “still hurting” from its Barataria by-election loss.
“This was a reaction to show they could put a previous UNC person in the post and see what happens. Gary’s smart enough to rise above it. But he’ll have a lot of political and police enemies who don’t want him there,” Khan said.
“The police should, however, give him a chance. We need to get a handle on criminal activity destroying T&T.”
Singh added: “We erred in not supporting Griffith, considering he was a high-achieving PP Cabinet colleague and the ‘fruit’ of a (Police Service Commission) process we said wasn’t flawed. Consistency required us to vote and support the choice.
“However, our caucus decision was followed on the basis of collective responsibility. But it’s clear our Opposition whip (David Lee) didn’t have the power to do as the Prime Minister did with his team and allow our MPs a conscience vote. In the Opposition Leader’s absence, our Chief Whip was emasculated and couldn’t rise to the Prime Minister’s challenge to remove our whip as he did for his team.
“If we had a conscience vote, I’d have voted for Griffith. I feel the whip should have been removed for the UNC. I hope in legislation ahead there’ll be more flexibility to call for removal of our whip. As for Griffith, the role of Commissioner is to be independent and impartial—therefore the law is his master. Not any man.”
Tewarie also admitted he sent a note to the whip just before the vote indicating I was uncomfortable with the position but followed our party line.
“On principle, our abstention can be defended because PNM transgressed with their principle of the PSC’s process being flawed. But given T&T’s crime situation and the need for a permanent duly-appointed Commissioner, I’d have been more comfortable supporting vote for a Commissioner,” Tewarie said.
“I wish the new Commissioner well and hope he succeeds in fighting crime. I hope he’ll be as independent in thought and spirit as he’s always been— but judicious in a post that has a lot of power.”
But UNC Whip Lee yesterday maintained the abstention was a collective decision based on the PNM saying the process was flawed and in the event legal issues arise from people who may challenge Griffith’s appointment.