An article appearing on Page 3 in the TnT Mirror of November 11, headlined “CoP Paul under pettitcoat manners” has attracted an official response from the Ministry of National Security.

The ministry’s response stated that the said article “lacked credibility, and was based on false information. The author did not verify the alleged reports, which are grounded on inaccurate data provided by a ‘top’ unnamed ‘legal source’ and other anonymous informants.”

It went on to state: “A simple check with the Ministry of National Security or the TnT Police Service would have clarified the matter.

“Clearly, no demonstrated professionalism was displayed, and therefore, the intent of the article was to create sensation and scandalise the Director of Human Resources of the TnT Police Service.

“The position of Director of Human Resources was created by Cabinet Minute #2701 of September 23, 2004 and the holder of the post was appointed through the office of the Director of Personnel Administration. Clearly then the false allegation that the Director of Human Resources openly boasts that she, reports directly to the Permanent Secretary” is nothing short of mischief and a gross indiscretion of the author.

“The Director of Human Resources has not spoken to or instructed any police officer.

“All communication with officers of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is done through the Senior Superintendent, Human Resource Branch.

“The power to transfer, discipline and promote police officers does not rest with the Director of Human Resources, but with the various Service Commissions within the Public Service, as stipulated by law.

“The Police Service is in the process of implementing a new system for officers to be promoted based on merit and performance on the job.

“This new system forms part of the transformation exercise to modernise and improve the performance of the TnT Police Service. It is now a policy practice to publish the names and photographs of individuals who have applied to become members of the Protective Services and the Defence Force.

“The government of TnT introduced the philosophy of modern Human Resource Management in 1998.

“This new approach advised that all ministries and departments create Human Resource Management Units to address the growing needs of it employees in a changing environment.

“This directive was based on a report completed by the Ministry of Public Administration in 1993.

“The report at the time concluded that training would greatly improve the quality of service given to the public.

“The use of the word ‘amazingly’ at the start of the second paragraph also gives the false impression that the author was present observing the Director of Human Resources at work.

“The last paragraph of the article appears to have been constructed to maliciously and mischievously impute that the Director of Human Resources has a problem when ‘socialising’.

“It is not established practice to encourage such a breach of the noble profession of journalism by using very little evidence of truth, to conjecture and falsify information against an innocent member of the public, without first conducting proper and impartial investigations.”