BY KYLE JEREMIAH

The man who assumes the office of Police Commissioner today, James Philbert, came under heavy fire yesterday as allegations arose that he failed a lie detector test.

The lie detector test in question was conducted during the process of screening candidates for the position of Commissioner of Police (CoP).

Opposition Chief Whip Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj made the allegation during yesterday’s debate on the Police Service Commission’s (PSC) nominee for the post of CoP in the Parliament.

So convinced was he that Philbert failed a lie detector test, Maharaj said he was willing to put his reputation on the line by facing the privileges committee if his allegations were found to be false.

Maharaj said, “After that Mr Luis Vega withdrew (as a potential candidate) from the process —that on considering the other two candidates a lie detector test was not passed by one of the other candidates.

“I think that the Government, if that is the case—I am saying that is the case and I am prepared to face the committee of privileges because I want to prove that. But I want you—if you didn’t check it to find out and come and tell us and say in what area was that test failed.”

Maharaj added, “We do know there was one nomination by the PSC—and that nominee (Stephen Williams) has satisfied the criteria for appointment to be CoP and what you have to tell us is why we should not support Mr Williams.”

Government, who in no uncertain terms said the process of selecting a candidate did not achieve the required objective, was also accused by Maharaj of having a “political agenda.”

Although Philbert is more senior than Williams in the Police Service, the aim of the legislative amendment was to ensure that seniority was not a requirement to appoint someone to act as commissioner, Maharaj said, adding that it was “inconsistent with the constitution.”

He said, “We cannot have a person who is really being appointed to perform these functions based on seniority and as a matter of fact the policy and objective (of the legislation) was for seniority to go.

“What was important is that a police officer was someone who would be able to manage the police service because of the problems that have accumulated over all the years.”

Maharaj said the issue had the potential to transform the Police Service into a private army for the Government if there were no safeguards.

private meeting

On the claims that PM Patrick Manning summoned Williams on Tuesday to ask him to reject the PSC’s nomination, Government refused to comment on the issue.

Neither National Security Minister Martin Joseph nor Works Minister Colm Imbert, when asked by Maharaj, arose to confirm or deny whether the meeting took place.

Maharaj said it was actually Joseph who informed Williams that Manning wanted to meet with him.

Manning was not present at yesterday’s sitting to respond to the claim.

Describing Government’s reasoning for not supporting the PSC’s nomination as “wishy-washy,” Maharaj questioned whether it was ethically right for Manning to have interfered in the matter.

“A PM should resign if that is the case! That is why he is hiding in Antigua,” Maharaj charged.

Maharaj said Government never said that Williams did not satisfy the requirements for police chief, but rather indicated that the process did not achieve the desired objectives.

“Desired objectives of who?” Maharaj asked.