AG dismisses Thorne on new police unit

Attorney General Dale Marshall has rebuffed Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne’s criticism of a new anti-gang police unit, dismissing the claims as “really, really quite silly”.

The controversy stems from Prime Minister Mottley’s announcement of plans for a Serious Organised Crime Unit within The Barbados Police Service. Thorne contended that the prime minister had overstepped her legal authority by making this announcement.

Responding to Thorne’s comments, Marshall told Barbados TODAY: “That criticism is really, really quite silly. It is obvious that the leader of the opposition is seeking to deflect attention from the failings on his side and the chasm that exists among his members, more than engaging in a serious discussion.”

The attorney general further questioned Thorne’s reasoning: “Is he saying then that Her Excellency the President ought to have made the announcement of the establishment of the Serious Organised Crime Unit instead of the Prime Minister?”

Thorne had earlier argued at an opposition media conference: “The prime minister has gone beyond her legal bounds. That is a matter for the Commissioner of Police to deal with. The point I wish to make is this . . . the prime minister is beyond her legal bounds when she makes this announcement as to how the police force shall function. The prime minister does not have that power.”

Citing Section 8 of the Police Act, he said: “The Commissioner of Police is responsible for the superintendence and administration of the police force, and he is not answerable to a prime minister. He is answerable to The President, the Head of the State.”

The attorney general countered by explaining the origins of the new unit: “Had he paid even the slightest attention to what was said, he would not be going down this road. That recommendation came out of a study that was done on The Barbados Police Service by an independent UK policing body. This was one of the two recommendations that were accepted by the Police Service and endorsed by the National Security Council.”

The attorney general defended the PM’s right to make such announcements: “Why then should the prime minister not make such an announcement? There are other recommendations that will likely be adopted by the Police Service and endorsed by the administration in the coming months. Will these initiatives be any less authoritative or effective because they are announced by the attorney general for example?”

Marshall contended that Thorne may have targeted Prime Minister Mottley because it may not have been expedient to criticise the police service.

“The leader of the opposition can’t criticise the initiative taken by the service, so instead, he focuses on who makes the announcement? Let’s get serious,” the attorney general declared.

Mottley had announced the new unit as a key recommendation from the Independent International Police Assistance Service (IPAS). She stated that it would focus “entirely on organised crime and gangs” in response to a surge in violent crime.

Mottley had also told reporters that “people must come to work every day to ensure that this [crime] is wrestled down and that this country is not held to ransom by people who want to act in a way that is inimical to people’s liberty and safety and property”.

The government has agreed to create temporary posts for the unit, which will operate alongside existing police divisions. 

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb