Fingers are pointing at the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) for having a hand in the decision of the Keith Mitchell-led New National Party (NNP) government to remove senior lawyer, Howard Pinnock as Acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
According to a well-placed source, the decision taken to give the axe to the Jamaican-born attorney-at-law is not related to the instructions given by him to the Police to lay sexually-related charges against top security official, Cletus St. Paul, a key member of the Security Detail around Prime Minister Mitchell.
Pinnock’s junior, Crisann Greenidge has been elevated over him to take charge of the office as the new Acting DPP.
The Jamaican attorney has been holding the post of acting DPP since March when Queen’s Counsel, Christopher Nelson took leave of absence.
The source pointed an accusing finger at Acting Commissioner of Police, Edvin Martin who allegedly complained to the Prime Minister about some of the advice given by Pinnock on matters involving the police.
He said: “Pinnock issue had little or nothing to do with Cletus – do not be misled. Edvin Martin complained to Dr. Mitchell of the many police sought opinions which (were) in the interest of justice, and not his (Martin’s) interest.
“All Mr. Pinnock’s opinions were recalled and given to Ms. Greenidge to review. What an insult. All acting will soon over, all movies have an end. What goes around comes around,” he added.
THE NEW TODAY on Sunday contacted Head of the Community Relations Department (CRD) of RGPF, Superintendent of Police, Vannie Curwen to forward the allegation of police involvement in the decision to slight Pinnock in favour of his junior by Commissioner Martin but no response was forthcoming.
The following was sent to Supt. Curwen: “I am doing an article on the above info in my possession which implicates Edvin Martin. I am giving you an opportunity to bring the information to his attention for comment on the issue”.
Supt. Curwen offered the following response: “Good afternoon Sir, we do not wish to comment at this time”.
In the case of Press Secretary Philomena Robertson who was contacted to solicit a response from the Prime Minister, she said: “I am currently on vacation. Will forward the request”.
Press Secretary Philomena Robertson sent the following response on Thursday at 2.35 p.m: “Regarding your requests submitted this week, I write to advise that there will be no comment from the office of the Prime Minister.”
According to a high-level source, Pinnock who holds the position of Senior Crown Counsel in the DPP’s office was given short notice a few days ago that he would not be given an appointment to perform the DPP duties for the month of August.
The legal source said that the move against Pinnock is “somewhat strange” and he was “slighted” for whatever reason as he has always acted as DPP since 2013 whenever Nelson is away from the job.
“There is nothing wrong to appoint someone else but you should not do that especially if the (new) person is his junior by so many years. That’s not good,” he added.
Under the Grenada Constitution, the name of person to be appointed to perform the function of DPP is given by Cabinet to the Minister of Legal Affairs who then gets the Permanent Secretary in the ministry to onpass the name to the St. Lucia-based Judicial & Legal Service Commission (JLSC).
It is this body which gives the name of the person to the Governor General who then makes the appointment to fill the position of DPP in keeping with the requirements of the Constitution.