Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley says the Public Service Commission (PSC) was not allowed to prevail with its appointment of Michelle Ann Austin as director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). Rowley was asked to comment on last week's appointment of Registrar General Susan Francois to the post.
In a telephone interview yesterday, he said by persisting with an appointment that was illegal in the first instance, the door was opened to "victimise the best qualified candidate of the PSC." He said Austin was "the recipient of the Government's oppressive action." Rowley said the service commissions were set up in T&T for the specific purpose of preventing such developments.
He said service commissions were supposed to be insulated from the political directorate in T&T. Rowley said it the wake of Francois' confirmation as FIU director, the Government had "trampled on the independence of the Public Service Commission."