The current Ramlogan-West-Rowley controversy has generated comments and opinions which I find surprising and illogical, and beyond my layman's comprehension. The genesis of it all is Mr Anand Ramlogan's court proceedings against Dr Rowley. Mr West enters the picture only because he is presumed to have relevant information which will support one of the litigants, and that litigant happens to be Rowley, and not Ramlogan. West agrees to submit that information to the court, which decision irritates some people, with little or no interest in the content; but they are critical because it favours Rowley and not Ramlogan.
West in due course is appointed chair of the Police Complaints Authority, on the advice jointly of Rowley and the prime minister. The role of the PCA is to receive citizens' complaints against allegedly wayward police officers; and PCA's connection with Ramlogan's private lawsuit is as close as the North/South poles.
Yet one newspaper editorialised: "West cannot hear citizens' complaints if he has knowledge of matters relevant to Ramlogan's private litigation." Another headline speculated "that West will be removed" for giving evidence against Ramlogan, the clear inference being "he should withhold such information" to qualify for the PCA chair.
The worrying underlying tone in many of the comments is that any holder of an official post is expected to close ranks with his colleagues in the face of perceived wrongdoing.
A friend opined to me that West should have declined the PCA chair when offered, citing (i) that Rowley should not have endorsed West because West was a witness (ii) also West's witness status would compromise his PCA functioning. The truth or otherwise of West's evidence is brushed aside as irrelevant.
This hush-hush culture now surfacing in all its nakedness could be the root of the corruption which has enveloped T&T since independence. A cabinet member "on the take" will sit comfortably alongside his colleagues, protected by the political convention of brotherly silence; but on the hustings, and post-cabinet conferences "country before party" will still be the favourite tune at maximum decibels.
Michael J Williams,
Maracas Valley