Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley is demanding that Attorney General Anand Ramlogan issue a public apology to acting Commissioner of Police James Philbert. Rowley made the call following Thursday's angry war of words between Ramlogan and Philbert, over security protection at the Lighthouse of the Lord Jesus Christ church on the Heights of Guanapo in Arima.
In a hard-hitting statement, Ramlogan had said that Philbert must give an adequate explanation for his alleged failure to protect the site. Failing that, the Attorney General suggested that the Police Service Commission should take action to "accelerate" the termination of his acting appointment. But yesterday, Rowley said Ramlogan was engaging in "open guerilla warfare" against Philbert, in "threatening to fire him."
Rowley said the Opposition "was not prepared to tolerate any more foolishness from the AG." He said Ramlogan attacked the Integrity Commission and then the Commissioner of Police. Rowley questioned who would be the AG's next target. "That is not what we want in T&T," he stressed. Rowley then advised Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar, who was seated opposite him in the Parliament Chamber, to "put a muzzle and a short leash on the Attorney General, and put him in a box until the next election because he seems not to know when he is out of Government and when he is in Government."
Rowley added: "The country deserves better and I think he ought to provide an apology to the Commissioner of Police because this country knows that Philbert was on his way out of office (via retirement) but his term was extended and extended." Rowley said he wanted to know if the AG's last salvo was intended to give the impression that "he was big, bad and ugly."
He said: "It's an ugly development."