00:00Questions are being directed at the Police Service Commission over what happened after Commissioner of Police Alistair Guevaro left the
00:07jurisdiction on emergency leave.
00:10In a statement posted to Facebook earlier today, Ruka Lopino MP Marvin Gonzalez, who's also the PNM's party chairperson,
00:18he's demanding clarity on whether the commission received correspondence from the Minister of Homeland Security concerning the commissioner's absence.
00:26He says, quote, the commission must further state whether in accordance with Section 123 of the Constitution and the applicable
00:34selection process order,
00:35it initiated the constitutionally prescribed process and submitted to Her Excellency the President the requisite nomination for the appointment of
00:45a person to act as Commissioner of Police during Mr. Guevaro's absence, end quote.
00:50Quote, Gonzalez says the issue goes beyond the circumstances surrounding the commissioner's leave and into the constitutional responsibilities governing leadership
00:58of the police service.
01:00He wants the commission to say whether it considered an acting appointment necessary and if not, what legal basis informed
01:08that decision.
01:09He said, quote, the people of Trinidad and Tobago are entitled to know whether the constitutional arrangements governing the leadership
01:16of the police service were properly observed, end quote.
01:20The MP is also criticizing the minister of Homeland Security's handling of the issue and says the prime minister's silence
01:26has added to public concern.
01:28But his primary demand is for the commission to explain its own role and decisions.
01:34Gonzalez says, quote, this is not a matter of political persuasion.
01:37It is a matter of constitutional compliance, transparency and accountability, end quote.
01:43He says if the commission continues to withhold an explanation, he will formally ask the president to require it to
01:50provide the necessary clarification.
01:52The call comes as questions remain over how the leadership of the police service was managed during the commissioner's absence.
01:59The police service commission has not publicly responded to Gonzalez's statement.
02:04Orvishita Wari Rupnarein, TV6 News.
