PORT OF SPAIN – The Trinidad and Tobago stung by the criticism that followed the appointment and resignation of an interim director for the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) says it will soon make an announcement regarding the appointment of a suitable candidate for the job.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar told Parliament Friday that “there are several prospective candidates who are being considered to take up the position of Director of the Strategic Services Agency, the SSA.
“In that regard we will make an announcement but we will only do so after we have utilized a more rigorous selection process. We will ensure that in all our action, merit trumps political affiliation. Our people deserve no less.”
Earlier this week, the Prime Minister admitted that her administration made a mistake when it appointed a 31-year-old communications technician to head the SSA.
Reshmi Usha Ramnarine has since tendered her resignation from the post and the eight-month-old government has come in for much criticism over the appointment, particularly after media reports indicated that Ramnarine’s educational qualifications as stipulated on her resume were false.
A number of government ministers, including the National Security Minister John Sandy who backed the appointed in a debate in Parliament, have since tendered public apologies.
But the Prime Minister had steadfastly refused to apologise, telling the nation at one time that the country needed to move on.
She told legislators on Friday that while her administration had been “found wanting with respect to the appointment of the Director of the SSA” it has had to deal with a number of issues that the now opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) had fostered upon the population over the many years it formed the government.
“For too long the politicization of the State apparatus has held back development. Too many times good ideas are stifled by agents of political parties who feel that by stalling delivery they are helping their party. When this happens it is the people who suffer,” she said.
“I will always strive to do the right thing and, if things go wrong, I am willing to do whatever it takes to make things right. I will always put the national interest ahead of my own or my party’s interest. This is not about me; this is about what is best for the country which we have been honoured to serve.
“I am not above human failing Mr. Speaker, neither am I beneath understanding of what needs to be done when we falter. The population expects more from us as a government than perhaps ever expected before,” she added. (CMC)
