Heads of strategic security agencies are appointed by governments and if an administration changes, those appointments can be revoked. Those posts can include the National Operations Centre (NOC), the National Security Council, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and Counter Trafficking Unit (CTU), former national security minister Gary Griffith told the T&T Guardian.
Griffith was responding to former prime minister Basdeo Panday, who said recently fired executive director of the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) Bisnath Maharaj has a good case for wrongful dismissal. Maharaj was appointed to the position in 2012 under the former People’s Partnership administration. Mathew Andrews, a seconded police officer, is currently acting as director of the agency.
Griffith said such dismissals are common practice worldwide.
“It is not a political position, but it is the right of any administration to appoint someone new in critical posts who they feel may be more capable to adhere to and implement their policies, inclusive of security,” he said.
“This was even done in the appointment of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), when it was noticed that the present CDS (Kenrick Maharaj) received an extraordinary one year extension, as the previous administration believed he was the person best suited to adhere to their policies.
“At times, some may remain in their appointments, simply because the new administration is comfortable that the incumbent is capable of adhering to their policies in that unit.”
Griffith said these procedures are seen internationally with the appointment of the FBI and CIA directors and Head of Homeland Security, which are done by the US president. The head of the M15, the UK’s security intelligence agency, is appointed by that country’s prime minister.
“Strategies and initiatives in security changes as the environment and the government changes, so there would be instances of reshuffling positions. The important factor here is that the security operation is not affected and any decision made does not affect the security or intelligence apparatus of the country.
“So the change in leadership in such units is done primarily to ensure that the productivity is improved,” he said.