Independent Senator Ramesh Deosaran has called for an ’emergency meeting’ of the Joint Select Committee of Parliament ’within one week’ to discuss the discovery of a set of guns, ammunition and marijuana in the ceiling of the St Joseph Police Station.

In a letter to the Committee chairman and copied to its ten other members, Deosaran said the issue ’has resulted in great shock and very deep concern across the population’.

’Combined with related incidents at other police stations, for example the murder at the doors of the West End Police Station, Diego Martin, this shocking discovery demands enquiry, in the first instance, from several appropriate agencies,’ Deosaran stated.

He said he wished to submit ’with respect’ that the JSC initiate an appropriate hearing on this ’discovery’ with particular reference to, inter alia: 1. Systems and procedures in place to guard the St Joseph Police Station, the West End Police Station, Diego Martin and other stations generally; 2. Systems and procedures to monitor the internal operations and physical items located in police stations, for example, the property room.

He said given the statement by acting Commissioner of Police James Philbert that previously ’there have been several problems at that St Joseph Police Station’, an enquiry by this parliamentary body is further justified.

Deosaran said that ’clearly’ there are issues of police operations and police mismanagement, and stressed that the enquiry should focus more on systems and procedures, rather than trying to find any officer or officers ’guilty’.

’As a matter of urgency, we should, within one half-day, call at least the acting Commissioner of Police and the relevant officers, then the Police Service Commission,’ the Independent Senator stated.

Deosaran said such an enquiry would put the JSC in a position to enquire more precisely from the Police Service Commission the manner and extent to which it ’exercises its powers’ in ensuring that such incidents do not occur, and the procedures used in getting the relevant reliable information from the Commissioner of Police.

’What we have been getting so far from the Police Service Commission, again in my respectful view, are generally vague or quite cryptic responses, as evidenced from our last meeting with them,’ Deosaran said, adding: ’As a parliamentary committee, we should be able to delve more deeply into relevant matters and be better prepared to examine the Service Commission when they appear before us.’

Chairman of the committee Pennelope Beckles said yesterday that she wanted to hold meetings during the parliamentary recess, but JSC members were adamant about not meeting during this period. Noting that some members were overseas, she said she would have to speak with members to give their views on such a meeting and to determine whether she could get a quorum.

Thirty-eight officers have been transferred following the discovery of guns, ammunition and narcotics in the ceiling of the station.