AL RAWI UNDER PNM FIRE

ATTORNEY General Faris Al Rawi is coming under pressure from within his own People’s National Movement (PNM) administration over his handling of the Police Commissioner issue. 

Certain senior Government ministers are bitter with Al Rawi over the advice he gave with respect to the naming of Gary Griffith as acting commissioner. 

The ministers include a one-time close Cabinet ally. 

The AG’s advice has been found to be flawed, and precipitated the collapse of the Police Service Commission (PSC). 

The Government hurriedly hacked off on the appointment of Griffith after seeking the advice of retired judge Rolston Nelson, who termed the measure as illegal and unconstitutional. 

This is the latest faulty legal advice from Al Rawi, who has seen several pieces of legislation which he presented in Parliament challenged in court. 

PNM Government propagandist Rhoda Bharath has openly called for Al Rawi to resign from his post as AG. 

“Faris Al Rawi needs to step down as Attorney General,” Bharath blurted in a social media post. 

She said the drafting of the law on the selection process for a commissioner is “incredibly disturbing.” 

She stated that the legislation is “bad” and “unconstitutional,” and that “Faris needs to resign.” 

The commentator accused the AG of “colluding and conspiring” with others.  

Bharath also chided incumbent Commissioner Gary Griffith, stating that “the job is not yours.”
She accused him of “gaslighting” society over the issue. 

President Paula Mae Weekes was termed “an embarrassment to the republic of Trinidad and Tobago. 

“She has allowed this entire situation to get out of hand. 

“She is clearly not keeping an eye on her Police Service Commission. 

“She is not keeping abreast of anything that is taking place.” 

Bharath is paid $20,000 a month by State-owned National Lotteries Control Board to do “damage control,” which has been publicly interpreted as promoting and defending the PNM administration. 

 Finance Minister Colm Imbert is the line minister for NLCB and also chair of the ruling PNM. 

Former envoy Dave Persad, an attorney, said that “in another country” Al Rawi “would have had to demit office, one way or the other.” 

Persad was the appointee of the Rowley Government as High Commissioner to India. 

Interestingly, United National Congress (UNC) activist, Larry Lalla, an attorney, has said that “someone in the PNM wants Faris gone. 

“The questions are who, why, and why are the elements in the UNC playing along?” 

Al Rawi is insisting that he would not resign.