By NALINEE SEELAL Tuesday, September 18 2012

click on pic to zoom in

ON GUARD: Two policemen, stand guard on Knox Street near the Red House during yesterday's ceremonial opening of the 2012-2014 law term. Opposition Le...

OPPOSITION Leader and People’s National Movement (PNM) political leader Dr Keith Rowley has written to Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams seeking permission to hold a public march from outside the Red House in Port-of-Spain, to President’s House, Knowsley Building where he is to present a petition to President George Maxwell Richards.

Up to press time last night, it was not known if the police had granted Rowley permission to stage the march although police sources indicated that the Opposition Leader would “more than likely” get the permission he is seeking.

Police sources told Newsday Acting Commissioner Williams forwarded Rowley’s application to the Senior Superintendent in charge of Port-of-Spain Division for his consideration.

Sources late yesterday said the application was still being considered by senior officers and sources added that a recommendation on whether or not to grant permission for the march, will reach Williams’ desk early this morning. The march is expected to commence at one o’clock this afternoon.

Sources said senior divisional officers were yesterday ascertaining two things, before coming to a decision — do they have the required ‘‘strength’’ in terms of police officers to accompany the marchers (given that there are several anti-crime initiatives including joint police/army patrols in Laventille) and, would the march cause or is likely to cause any security breach.

Sources said, with all things being equal, it is very likely permission will be granted to Rowley.

On Sunday, Rowley, speaking at the PNM’s Diego Martin West constituency conference at the Point Cumana Regional Complex said there were too many ties between Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and Justice Minister Herbert Volney to legal matters involving former United National Congress (UNC) financiers Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson.

He attributed these ties to Government’s hasty move last week to have Parliament repeal Section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act 2011.

After condemning Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for failing to explain why Government took that action, Rowley called on all citizens “who are concerned” about this issue to join him outside the Red House for the march.

According to well placed sources, several PNM party groups have been working closely to get members to join the Opposition Leader in his walk. It remained unclear last night whether the trade union movement would join with the PNM in this march.