By Alexander Bruzual Friday, August 28 2009

Requests for a commission of inquiry into the discovery of guns, ammunition and drugs at the St Joseph Police Station ceiling could be brought before a Joint Select Committee (JSC) as early as next week.

This was revealed yesterday by Deputy Speaker Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, in a brief interview following the graduation ceremony for candidates of UTT’s Pre-University Programme, at the O’Meara Road Campus.

Beckles-Robinson, who also chairs the JSC which monitors service commissions and municipal corporations, including the Police Service Commission (PSC), told Newsday she has received two letters from Independent Senator Professor Ramesh Deosaran to probe the discovery of the illegal guns, drugs and ammunition.

She said both letters, which highlighted several issues raised by the professor, would be presented to the committee in the near future.

“Right now we are awaiting his (Deosaran) return, because we don’t want to start anything without him present. When last we spoke he said he would be away for seven to ten days, so we are waiting until sometime hopefully next week, because it wouldn’t be right to start anything without him,” Beckles-Robinson explained.

Although the Deputy Speaker said she would not comment on any foreseeable decisions by the Committee, she agreed the matter was one of serious concern.

The find of drugs and firearms in the ceiling of the station has led to the transfer of 38 officers from that station.

Deosaran has written to Beckles-Robinson, inquiring how the PSC exercises its powers over the Police Service, in order to stop such an incident occurring again.