Warner: I scrapped Flying Squad plan (with CNC3 video)

Warner grilled by senate

National Security Minister Jack Warner says he abandoned plans to establish a new Flying Squad because it was not supported by acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams. Warner said so in response to a question on yesterday’s Senate Order Paper from Opposition Senator Fitzgerald Hinds. Warner repeated several times yesterday he was not aware of any moves to re-establish the unit.

“I made no promises. I said I would explore it and I did. I discussed it with the (acting) Commissioner of Police and based on his advice, the idea was abandoned,” he said. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had asked Williams to probe allegations of the re-establishment of the squad in the Police Service last year. Earlier the Opposition refused to allow the Government to debate the Defence (Amendment) Bill in the Senate next Tuesday as it was Private Members Day.

House Leader Ganga Singh then said the legislation, which seeks to give soldiers police powers of arrest, would be debated in the Upper House on April 2. The bill already has been approved in the House of Representatives.