While Mrs. Persad Bissessar is yet to formally respond to the President, she is accusing her of showing poor judgment in her attempt to appoint Attorney Earnest Koylass to the PSC.

In a release Kamla Persad Bissessar says based on her Excellency’s nomination it is abundantly clear that the President has no intention of maintaining the critical independence of the commissions. 

She says a quick Google search revealed significant ties to high-ranking members of the ruling People’s National Movement.

She says, in the weeks leading up to the 2020 General Election, Mr. Koylass hosted a cocktail reception for the now Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi and Mr. Koylass’s law firm also employed the current PNM Senator Randal Mitchell. 

The Opposition leader says Mr. Koylass has a right to choose his political associations, but by no stretch of the imagination can he be considered free of political conflicts of interest. 

She says they will not support the nomination of Mr. Koylass to the PSC. 

Mrs. Persad Bissessar says her Excellency is either willfully seeking to obstruct the functioning of an independent commission through blatant political partisan appointments, or she is now taking instructions directly from the Rowley government. 

She says to protect the dignity of her esteemed office; her Excellency must accept the part she has played in the sorry episode and immediately resign.

Yesterday Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley described Mrs. Persad-Bissessar as disrespectful and desperate saying she mistakenly criticised the President for nominating Mr. Koylass.

Dr. Rowley said there was no need for that kind of behaviour.

He said Mrs. Persad Bissessar genuinely believes that bacchanal, janjhat and disrespectful confusion is a sign of good and necessary leadership.

The Prime Minister said she seizes every opportunity to create scandal and denigration of even innocent people.

According to the Prime Minister this type of behaviour drives many decent people away from getting involved in public service.