COP’s De Lima ‘frightened’ by resignations of top cops

Congress of the People’s (COP) Vernon De Lima says he’s “frightened” by the resignation of Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs and his deputy Jack Ewatski. De Lima, a prominent attorney, said Jack Warner’s appointment as the Minister of National Security should have never occurred in the first place.

“The COP’s position has always been Mr Jack Warner should never have been a member of Cabinet at all. “This is a very serious thing,” he said. He believes Warner is now aligning the security forces under him, and said he cannot understand how someone with “so much hanging over his head” could have been made minister of national security.

“It is frightening…look at the way these two men have resigned,” De Lima said yesterday. He said the COP protested against the Manning administration for the same reason and he believes there is little difference in what is happening now. And president of the non-governmental organisation Fixin’ T&T, Kirk Waithe, said they are concerned at the latest developments.

“The process which was recently engaged causes us great concern. “We believe it to be a dangerous precedent. “And it appears to be yet another example of this administration’s blatant disregard for our Constitution,” he said. Nevertheless, Fixin’ T&T believes Ewatski and Gibbs should have been removed a long time ago because the country has the talent “to effectively manage the police service.”

“It is our sincerest hope that the balance of their contracts was not bought out,” said Waithe.