Opposition Leader calls for Trinidad President to resign
(Trinidad Express) Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-¬Bissessar has called for the resignation of President Paula-Mae Weekes, saying she is now “disgracing and debasing” her office by her actions.
The former prime minister said yesterday that President Weekes must demit office following her latest recommendation of a PNM supporter—attorney Ernest Koylass—for appointment to the Police Service Commission (PolSC).
Persad-Bissessar said she was further alarmed by the swift manner in which the President moved to issue PolSC notifications in respect of retired Justice of Appeal Judith Jones and Maxine Attong as PolSC nominees—without waiting for the views from the Opposition Leader.
“Her Excellency is either wilfully seeking to obstruct the functioning of an independent PolSC through blatant political partisan appointments, or she is now taking instructions directly from the Rowley Government?” asked Persad-Bissessar.
“This entire episode paints an extremely grim picture of our democracy under this Rowley Government. In order to protect the dignity of her esteemed office, Her Excellency must accept the part she has played in the sorry episode and immediately ¬resign,” she added.
In a release yesterday, Persad-Bissessar stated that given the controversial manner in which the PolSC
collapsed, one would have hoped that the President would have exercised better judgment in attempting to repair the serious constitutional crisis that has arisen.
She took issue with Koylass’ name as a recommendation, as she noted that a quick Google search indicated significant ties to high-ranking members of the ruling PNM.
Persad-Bissessar stated that according to a report in the Trinidad Guardian on January 25, 2012, thenOpposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley “warmly welcomed” Koylass to join the “PNM family” at a PNM cottage meeting in Moruga.
She added that in 2017 Koylass represented the then-Minister of Housing in a legal matter against homeless residents.
Persad-Bissessar added that in the weeks leading up to the 2020 general election, Koylass hosted a cocktail reception for nowAttorney General Faris AlRawi. She stated that Koylass’ law firm also employed current PNM Senator Randall Mitchell. “Mr Koylass has a right to choose his political associations, but by no stretch of the imagi¬nation can he be considered free of political conflicts of interest,” stated Persad-Bissessar.
“The fact that the Police Service Commission collapsed due to the dark spectre of political interference hanging over it makes the selection of Mr Koylass extremely alarming,” she added.
Persad-Bissessar stated that she will not support Koylass’ nomination.
The Express contacted Koylass yesterday and asked about his politi¬cal affiliation which PersadBissessar raised, to which he responded: “I love the Opposition Leader.”
Persad-Bissessar told the Express by phone that last Thursday, October 7, the President communicated with her via three letters putting forward the names of Koylass, Jones and Attong as PolSC nominees.
Persad-Bissessar noted that she was at the time busy preparing for the national budget reply on Friday, but had commenced enquiries into the names put forward by the President.