Saturday, September 26 2009

ACTING Commissioner of Police James Philbert yesterday confirmed that an investigation into allegations contained in a controversial affidavit, sworn by Jamaat leader Yasin Abu Bakr, is being investigated by police.

“Let me make a statement that you all need to pay attention to,” Philbert said yesterday during a press conference at the office of the Police Service Commission on Queen Street in Port-of- Spain.

“The commissioner got an affidavit from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in May, and I have said that since that time, the police have been pursuing an investigation. It continues. The Police Service continues to pursue that investigation,” Philbert said.

Philbert made the affirmation amidst controversy over the decision of former High Court Judge Justice Rajendra Narine to refer the affidavit to the police as well as criticism of this decision by Attorney General John Jeremie. The controversial affidavit, which was struck out of debt collection court proceedings before Narine, alleges a deal between Jamaat leader Abu Bakr and Prime Minister Patrick Manning in relation to the 2002 General Election campaign.

Yesterday, chair of the PSC Ambassador Christopher Thomas said that in relation to a special report Philbert was ordered to submit to the PSC, which would outline his (Philbert) plans to address crime, Thomas said, “We have the report and we are looking at it, analysing it and we will be discussing it with the Commissioner in short order.”

“I have heard the opinion of some that we have gone outside our mandate, but that is a question of interpretation.” Both Thomas and Philbert welcomed, in theory, the introduction of a compulsory national service.

“Every initiative by stakeholders is useful in the present environment,” Thomas said. Philbert noted that such an initiative would be welcomed. “I think we are going to be allowed to fill a vacuum that is allowed to exist where gangs have their way. If we could fill that vacuum, excellent,” he said.