While not directly addressing the concerns and accusations made by Chairman of the Police Service Commission, retired Assistant Police Commissioner, Paul Slowe, President Irfaan Ali today rejected the accusations that he tried to influence the work of the Commission as “convenient” and “opportunistic”.

During a press conference on Monday, Mr. Slowe alleged that the President called him directly to inquire why “his people” were not on the police promotion list last year. 

The President was inquiring about Senior Superintendents, Fazil Karimbaksh and Calvin Brutus. Karimbaksh, the head of the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) has brought criminal charges against Mr. Slowe, and other retired senior officers.

But in a statement, President Ali said “I find it convenient and opportunistic that Mr Paul Slowe would make the accusation that I tried to influence him and the work of the Police Service Commission. This is not only far from the truth, but it is a malicious attempt to change the narrative”.

The President said he met with Mr. Slowe and other independent Commissioners and raised several concerns. He said as President, his desire is to see the Commission function professionally and independently.

“If Mr. Slowe is saying I tried to influence him, where are the results of that influence? Where is the result”, the President questioned.

“It is therefore not only opportunistic but a total lie that my meeting with Mr Slowe was to exercise any influence. This level of distortion and public mischief by the Chairman of this Commission exposes his leadership and alignment,” the President continued in his statement.

The president also questioned the timeliness of the release of Mr. Slowe’s statement.

Mr. Slowe provided details of a meeting and telephone conversations he had with the President, as the President allegedly sought to get him to promote some senior Police Officers who were not shortlisted for promotion by the PSC.

Slowe said the President even sought to “butter” him up by promising that he would have him continue on as Chairman of the Police Service Commission when the life of the current Commission ends in August.

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