Senior Reporter
jesse.ramdeo@cnc3.co.tt
Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Dr Amery Browne has confirmed that Government is currently considering who to appoint as this country’s ambassador to Washington.
This comes over a month after former ambassador, retired brigadier general Anthony Phillips-Spencer, was recalled to act as head of the Strategic Services Agency (SSA).
Phillips-Spencer is now spearheading an internal audit of the SSA, after Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said he received information from the police of alleged misconduct taking place with the use of State resources.
Speaking yesterday, Minister Browne maintained that even without an ambassador, the work of the embassy remains well managed by a dedicated team of diplomats and officers. He also noted that a Charge d’ Affaires is in place.
Phillips-Spencer presented his credentials as Trinidad and Tobago’s Ambassador to the United States back in 2016. In 2004, Phillips-Spencer was sent to Washington as defence attaché (DA) in the embassy. While there, he forged a close relationship between his military and the Delaware National Guard. He returned to T&T and in 2011 was named commanding officer of the army.
In 2013, Phillips-Spencer was made Vice Chief of the Defence Force and was thought to be in line to be chief. However, when the incumbent chief retired, Phillips-Spencer was passed over and a few months later was sent to Washington as Ambassador.
So far as acting head of the SSA, Phillips-Spence is spearheading the audit which has resulted in the dismissal of 12 employees, after they reportedly failed polygraph testing.