Ah might move on after this one Kamla.....maybe....on a related note, whoever feeding the Express this information eh like what go on here at all, at all.....
Recommending ReshmiOpposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley yesterday called for a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the appointment of Reshmi Ramnarine as Director of the Strategic Services Agency.
Ramnarine, 31, was appointed on January 14 to head the spy agency, but resigned after the Express broke the story of her appointment. Subsequent stories revealed that her resume had been embellished.
Below is the recommendation of Deputy Director of the SSA Julie Browne, which the National Security Council acted on to make Ramnarine's appointment.
Ministry of National Security
Strategic Services Agency
10 January 2011
The Honourable
Kamla Persad-Bissessar, MP
Prime Minister,
Office of the Prime Minister,
13-15 St Clair Avenue,
St Clair
Honourable Prime Minister, after careful consideration of the legal relationship between the Interception of Communications Act, 2010, (Act No. 11 of 2010) and the Strategic Services Agency Act, Chap. 15:06, the present structure of the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) executive (consisting of only two deputy directors) appears restricted due to the expressed legal inhibitions that avert several essential functions delegated solely to the office of the Director of the SSA.
While the two deputy directors can lawfully effect the merger of the Security Intelligence Agency (SIA) with the Strategic Services Agency as an appointed steering committee so authorised, they, acting intra vires, do not have the power to lawfully employ, exercise disciplinary control or terminate appointment of employees, or authorise the interception of communications.
According to section 5(1) of the Strategic Services Agency Act, and also section 5(1) of the Interception of Communications Act, 2010, the functions mentioned therein reside solely with someone lawfully appointed by the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago as the Director of the SSA, pursuant to section 4(1) of the Strategic Services Agency Act. Further, the SSA cannot be established without the appointment of a Director. Section 3(1) of the Strategic Services Agency Act provides that the SSA consists of the Director and the employees of the SSA. Finally, the functions of the SSA are to be exercised by the Director after consultation with the line Minister. Consequently, the functions set out under section 5(1) of the Strategic Services Agency Act, which includes the employment of staff, cannot be performed without the appointment of the Director of the SSA.
Also, the appointment of the Director, who is also one of the "authorised officer" under section 5(1) of the Interception of Communications Act, 2010, will alleviate all the inherent problems currently affecting the SSA; particularly that of its operational portfolio, as set out in section 4(4)(a) of the Strategic Services Agency Act.
The spiralling murder rate requires an immediate initiation and implementation of all the SSA/SIA resources, including the recent legislated capability to intercept communications. At present, the interception of communication by the SSA remains unlawful without the permission of an "authorised officer".
Having regard to the current merger and streamlining process whereby the SIA is being absorbed by the SSA, I strongly recommend an interim Director to the SSA be immediately appointed for a six (6) month period (as allowed by the section 4(2) of the Strategic Services Agency Act) as a temporary measure to oversee the successful execution of the amalgamation and rationalisation of the SIA and SSA subsequent to which, the Government would then appoint a substantive Director to drive the operations of the newly amalgamated intelligence agency.
In light of this, and for expediency, I wish to respectfully submit Ms Reshmi Ramnarine for consideration as the interim Director of SSA for a period of six months in keeping with the section 4(2) of the Strategic Services Agency Act. During this time, I recommend that a suitably qualified person be sourced for permanent appointment as the Director of the SSA post the amalgamation process. Details relative to Ms Ramnarine's certifications and qualifications for this post are attached.
In the context of the prevailing circumstances, it is felt that the position of an interim Director would best be served by the following:
Someone who has a history in the SIA, and who understands the culture and inner workings of this and similar organisations
Someone with a proven track record in the field of criminal intelligence
Someone who is knowledgeable and experienced with respect to the administrative, operational and technological aspects of the Agency's functions
Someone who, at this time, has the support of staff (senior and junior).
As a member of a transformation team comprising senior members of the SSA and SIA, who are spearheading the merger of the SSA and SIA, Ms Ramnarine has
met these criteria.
Additionally, she has confirmed that she has completed her degree, at the University of the West Indies, in Information Technology and has additional tertiary level qualifications (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer). Previous performance appraisals recommended her for immediate promotion as she is known to face challenges head on and can effectively manage duties at a higher level.
Her appraisals also described her as dedicated and focused with an appreciation of both the technical and administrative aspects of her work. She also uses her initiative to research and present products and services to enhance the productivity of her department. She has leadership qualities and can be entrusted with greater responsibilities. The latter has been well exhibited in her performance on the transformation team.
These qualities are the foundation upon which Ms Ramnarine is recommended to serve as the interim Director for the specific transitional period. Human resource practice allows for an appropriate combination of training, skills and experience. It should be noted that a university degree is not a perquisite for this office. Indeed the previous Director was not a university graduate. Education, training and experience for the post of the Director of the SSA, as stated on the job description for the position, are determined by the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is against this background that I very respectfully submit this recommendation for Ms Ramnarine who was hired by the Security Intelligence Agency on 1 June 2002, after undergoing a sixmonth selection and interview process. This process incorporates and is not exclusive to background checks and criminal record scrutiny.
Finally, Ms Ramnarine's immediate predecessor at the SSA, Nigel Clement, joined the SIA in June 2002 as the Deputy Director, Operations and Intelligence. At this time he held no Bachelor's degree for a post that explicitly required one. Mr Clement was appointed to act as Director of the SIA in February 2007. He acted in this position until his appointment as the Director of the SSA on 1 April 2010, which was rescinded by the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in October 2011.
The human resource records at the SIA and the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG) reveal that Nigel Clement was in possession of 5 0' Levels with grades B's and C's. Moreover, the majority of his career was spent as an ordinary naval officer in the TTCG. His experience in the TTCG did not in any way distinguish him for the position to which he was appointed. He possessed no specific training or qualification over and above the average TTCG officer to qualify him for his appointment as Director of the SSA or SIA.
His naval experience could not have assisted with the fulfilment of the mandate of the SSA or the SIA to provide actionable and strategic intelligence to assist in crime fighting and the development of crime fighting strategies. Someone with just a few years experience in the field of intelligence operations will be of far greater value than a Coast Guard Officer who spent most of his working years patrolling the seas.
In March 2009, one month before the submission of the Ross Report on the National Security Sector Review, which initially recommended the merger of SIA and SSA. Nigel Clement sought to qualify himself for the position of Director of the merged entity at the expense of the State. He began pursuit of a Diploma/Masters of Studies in Applied Criminology and Police Management at Wolfson College, Cambridge University, United Kingdom. The approximate cost of the programme is as follows:
Tuition: TT$142,725£14,000 (£7,000 per academic year)
Travel: TT$351,900(Business Class airfare to London @ approx. $36,000. And per diem @ approx $22,650 for six, two-week residential sessions over the two year programme).
Total: TT$494,625.
Some cost was borne by SAUTT and some by SIA.
It is unknown at this present time if he has completed same. The foregoing is respectfully submitted for your consideration. Please be assured of my highest consideration.
Respectfully
Julie Browne
Deputy Director, SSA.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Recommending_Reshmi-115534004.html