PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Deputy Commissioner of Police, Suzette Martin, is reported to have written a letter to Trinidadian Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley as the investigations continue into misbehaviour in public office involving the Commissioner of Police, Erla Harewood-Christopher.
NEWSDAY newspaper Wednesday published the contents of a letter dated February 1, 2025, which Martin wrote to Prime Minister Rowley, requesting information from him as head of the National Security Council, regarding the importation of two Acouraoy International AX2 Bolt Action Sniper Rifles and assortment of high-valued operating accessories including 7.62 millimetre mono block suppressor scopes complete with scope mounts and bipods.
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In the letter, which the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) has not yet been able to verify, Martin said she has been advised by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Roger Gaspard to “request for information from the National Security Council” relative to the acquisition of the rifles obtained by the Strategic Services Agency (SSA), during the period July 4, 2023 and June 2, 2024.
According to the letter, Prime Minister Rowley is being asked “Did Erla Harewood-Christopher, Commissioner of Police, and/or Retired Major Roger Best, former Director of the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) brought (sic) to the council’s attention the intent of SSA to procure the above-mentioned items? If yes, was it approve (sic) by the National Security Council?”
In addition, “Did Erla Harewood-Christopher, Commissioner of Police, brought (sic) to the council (that) she approved SSA request to procure the above-mentioned items through FUL dealer Luke Hadeed managing director of Aston Enterprises Limited?”
The letter ended by saying “forwarded for your urgent attention and assistance, please”.
Last week, Prime Minister Rowley told reporters that while he was “disappointed” with the situation regarding the police commissioner, Trinidad and Tobago operates under the rule of law.
“Whatever has happened, that it has come to that, that a senior officer like that apparently could run afoul of the law,” he said, adding” a person is innocent until proven guilty, and due process is guaranteed.
“Let me just emphasise that the Government of Trinidad and Tobago does not identify any person to become the subject of a police investigation, charge, or prosecution. That is a matter for the police, and there is no role in that process of prosecution for the Government,” he added.
Meanwhile, the deadline given by Harewood-Christopher’s attorneys for the Police Service Commission (PSC) to “immediately” rescind her suspension as well as to withdraw a letter in which she must “cease to report for duty and cease to discharge the duties of Commissioner of Police”, has passed.
Senior Counsel Pamela Elder had given the PSC until 2 p.m. (local time) on February 4 to adhere to the demand or face judicial review proceedings and must regard her correspondence as a pre-action protocol letter.
But the deadline passed with only an acknowledgement from the PSC of receiving the pre-action protocol letter.
In a January 31 letter sent to President Christine Kangaloo, the PSC said that the action against Harewood-Christopher is being taken “as a result of an ongoing investigation into misbehaviour in public office”.
Over the last weekend, Harewood-Christopher was released from police custody after being questioned in connection with the illegal procurement of high-powered rifles.
On Monday, the PSC clarified its position saying that on January 30 it received a communication from the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence and Investigation, stating that the police commissioner “was cautioned, informed that she was a suspect in an ongoing investigation into misbehaviour in public office and was under arrest”.
Parliament is set to meet later on Wednesday to debate the PSC’s nomination of DCP Junior Benjamin as acting Commissioner of Police and ACP Curt Simon as an acting DCP as the investigation into the SSA procurement continues.
