An intense, confidential Cabinet meeting at the Diplomatic Centre last Wednesday, left a few ministers chastened and upset when Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar laid down new guidelines for their code of conduct.
The Sunday Guardian understands that Persad-Bissessar clamped down on the use of blue flashing lights on vehicles, banned use of shortcuts through the South Quay bus terminus, and restricted use of the National Security Operations Centre (NOSC) helicopter to her office only. She also asked them to adhere to the law by removing very dark tints from their cars.
While several of the ministers in attendance remained tight-lipped on the issues discussed at Wednesday’s meeting, one insider described it as “tense,” saying that all was well until Persad-Bissessar detailed her four mandates. The Sunday Guardian contacted the ministers who attended the session, and could be seen in a photograph taken of the meeting, but was told that it was “highly confidential” and no one was allowed to speak of what was discussed.
Minister of National Security Gary Griffith, who attended the meeting, said he could not recall if the issue of the helicopter came up, but was out of the meeting for a short moment, so he could not be sure. “It is hardly likely that the Prime Minister said that. She may have obviously had to remind ministers that the NOSC falls under the purview of the Office of the Prime Minister,” Griffith said.
Griffith also said that the helicopters and operational equipment attached to the NOSC still falls under his remit. The Prime Minister, he said, had control of the administration of the NOSC, as she also controlled the National Security Council.
Head of the NOSC, Commander Garvin Heerah, in a brief telephone interview, said only the Prime Minister’s office is authorised to approve the use of the NOSC’s helicopters now. He said it used to be that the Ministry of National Security was authorised, but that has been restructured. “It must go to the Prime Minister,” Heerah said.
“We do interministerial support as required, such as for environmental missions and disaster evaluations. If a ministry needs to requisition a helicopter, it used to be authorised by the Minister of National Security, but as the head of the NOSC, it is the Prime Minister that has the final say,” Heerah said. He said the NOSC ensured that all requests came in writing and once approved, then a helicopter would be allowed off the compound.
On the issue of the blue flashing lights, Griffith said no minister or ministry was authorised to used blue flashing lights on their vehicle unless it was being driven by an on-duty police officer. “If a minister has a civilian driver, then he cannot use blue flashing lights,” Griffith said. One attendee, speaking on the condition of anonymity, however, confirmed that Persad-Bissessar gave no ground on the issues.
Another attendee, who also requested anonymity, confirmed that this was not the first time the Prime Minister banned the use of blue flashing lights on vehicles. An insider informed the Sunday Guardian that one minister was already warned, had stopped using the lights and only recently started using it again. The Sunday Guardian was also informed that it was Transport Minister Stephen Cadiz who broached the restrictions of the South Quay bus terminus.
In a telephone interview, Cadiz confirmed that the restrictions would be put in place, but denied that only ministers accessed the area to by-pass the traffic lights at South Quay. When asked if the issue was raised at Wednesday’s meeting, Cadiz did not respond directly. “But it was a non-issue. We are doing a reorganisation at PTSC (Public Transport Services Commission), it is a working yard, buses turn, reverse, pick up passengers, it is unsafe for vehicles to be driving through that area,” he said.
Cadiz said his ministry was putting “safety measures” in place to prevent any driver from using the compound to bypass traffic lights and traffic along South Quay. “We will be putting gates in place and stopping what is an unsafe practice,” Cadiz said.
