Email

Print

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"That is a rank speculation and allegations. I mean, people are allowed to have private businesses, yes or no. I think many officers have private businesses."

Jules Vasquez:
"But is it permitted?"

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"Where do you get loans and that sort of thing? You have to ask them. If that's how they get their money."

Jules Vasquez:
"Yes but under the security..."

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"There's nothing preventing it. No, there's nothing preventing you from having a private business."

Jules Vasquez:
"But the principle of it is not ideal because you are dealing with the prosecution of criminals. And when you have private ventures, you may have business transactions with people who turn out to be criminals, unbeknownst to you."

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"It has always been the case, Jules, I don't I don't know why you feel like these things are popping up now that commissioners of police deputies assistance, even low level, police constables have private businesses. We are not going to go down a road of restricting police officers from having a business. Now, that business obviously has to be legitimate. They obviously have to maintain their reputation in carrying out their business. That is what is important. You have to look at that. If they're swindling people, I fully agree with you that they should not have a business of that nature and remain police officers. They should come out of the department."

Jules Vasquez:
"Sir, but if your business is law enforcement."

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"But don't you have managers of your business. You act as though, the commissioner or assistants or deputies are out at their businesses all day. If they're doing that, then they are definitely breaching their fiduciary duty as officers."

Jules Vasquez:
"Sir, you have man with car dealerships. You have two because Mr. Senior Superintendent Sutherland is one. And we know that the FIU just said car dealership is one of the hotspot areas for money laundering."

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"So you better be accountable and reputable. That's what you have to be."

Jules Vasquez:
"Who will enforce it? They are the police."

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"The FIU."

Jules Vasquez:
"The FIU is staffed with police officers."

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"No, the FIU does not answer to the police. I'll have you know that."

Jules Vasquez:
"Look at the position you're in that you who you can be on part amongst and other elements during your time in office for a clearer and specific reason, shouldn't that clear and specific reason also apply to police officers? Because they have to apply the law without fear or favor? And by owning these large enterprises, they're bringing themselves into positions where they could be in conflict, in disrepute or in dishonesty."

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"So it's important, like I said, Jules, that they maintain their reputation, they remain in their good standing because they are police officers. I am not going to be the one to pass on a memorandum or a policy decision that no police officer can have business that's you're not going to find that with me. So if that's where you're going."