While this column may at times be challenging to the People's Partnership (PP) Government, when it comes to matters affecting our domestic and international national interests relative to national security, intelligence, transnational organised crime (illicit drug trafficking, illegal firearms, money laundering, human trafficking and immigration and refugee law), it is duty bound to examine, assess, inform, educate and raise questions as to whether the Government can really manage national security, as week after week, they have to contend with apparent blunders and statements in its decision making processes.
The latest imbroglio involves the recent statements by the Head of the Strategic Services Agency (SSA), Colonel Griffith in his investigation into the role of Julie Browne, deputy director of the SSA, and with whom he worked on the steering and restructuring committee for the Special Anti-Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago (SAUTT). Bearing in mind all the apparent damage done to national security since the PP's inception as a new government, to what extent can Colonel Griffith's statements implicate the Office of the Prime Minister and the ministers of National Security?
Unanimously approved and endorsed by both the Government and Opposition, newly appointed SSA, Colonel Albert Griffith may have unwittingly precipitated a crisis in the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of National Security, endangered his own credibility, compromised his integrity and damage whatever chances or personal prospects he had of even leading the forthcoming National Intelligence Agency.In a similar vein, Colonel Griffith stated that the SSA will be open, transparent and accountable. If ever there was a time for these three elements to come out in the public domain, it is certainly now. Can Colonel Griffith do that? Did he consult with his Ministers of National Security before making this statement to the press?
Whether Colonel Griffith was instructed to do so by the political directorate, or not, in order to bring closure to the matter and deflect blame off the Prime Minister's Office, he actually fanned the crucible of searing public disgust, and prepared himself for his own Garden of Gethsemane experience. Griffith's personal investigation and eventual exoneration of Julie Browne would raise many questions.
His statements that "Julie Browne was led to believe" may be the most imprudent and unintelligent statement ever emanating from a director of the SSA. Obviously, this statement begs another question: By whom was Julie Browne led to believe that the credentials were genuine? Then who was responsible for falsifying the resumé? Was it the recommender or a senior government official? Why was such a sterling recommendation advanced by Julie Browne in the candidacy of Reshmi Ramnarine addressed to the honorable Prime Minister instead of the line minister? For someone holding a senior position as deputy director of an Intelligence entity, to recommend Ramnarine for a position to be her boss, by not interviewing her and examining the academic credentials, before endorsing such a recommendation, suggests that there may be elements of C5-namely, complicity, condonation, collusion, connivance and conspiracy. In defending Julie Browne, is Colonel Griffith attempting to send a message to the population, protecting her career or removing the matter from any high government official? Do they believe that this public can be easily lured into believing their created spider's web?
Security advisor, Gary Griffith's statement which will raise more public concerns and questions, may even prompt an urgent call for an independent inquiry, calling Reshmi Ramnarine and Julie Browne and all others intricately and intimately involved. The situation worsens when it is recalled that Gary Griffith, security advisor to the Prime Minister, in what may be construed as an attempt to do damage control to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) told the Trinidad Guardian on January 31, 2011, in an article written by Radica Sookraj, and captioned, "Griffith Blames SIA member for Reshmi fiasco," and his statement recorded, "it was a public servant from the Security Intelligence Agency and not the Prime Minister who had erred in making Ramnarine's appointment."
Can Colonel Griffith now reconcile his SSA statements of being open, transparent and accountable with that of the PM security Advisor, Gary Griffith? This security intelligence fiasco also houses the potential to bring down this government, as well as the integrity for both national security ministers. Last weekend Express Sunday newspaper revealed the alleged involvement of junior National Security Minister Subhas Panday, in the Keron Ganpat appointment.
It is important to note that some of the unintended consequences of the security intelligence fallout, which implicated the entire Cabinet. These included the loss of government's credibility in being transparent and fully accountable to the population and whom they solemnly promise not to betray, loss of public's trust and the confidence reposed in this democratically elected government.
It is quite unfortunate that Trinidad and Tobago being one of the leading nations of Caricom on security and intelligence has to undergo this debacle. Also, what is the thinking and perception of our North American allies? Isn't a rather grave indictment on what constitutes effective and meaningful governance in the realm of intelligence and national security affairs?Next week....... Nizam Mohammed and Commissioner Gibbs-The Challenge.