Information from the director of the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) and the head of the Special Branch on August 10 led Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro to apply to Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander for five days of emergency leave to travel out of the jurisdiction.Guevarro revealed this in a nearly three-minute-long audio recording released to the media yesterday, in the midst of speculation over reasons for his absence from the country and why the Police Service Commission (PolSC) had not appointed an acting top cop.In his voice note, Guevarro said he followed the established process when he applied for emergency leave to travel out of Trinidad and Tobago and rejected suggestions that his absence had caused a crisis within the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS).Guevarro however did not disclose details of the information from the SSA and Special Branch that caused him to fly out.He said Alexander approved the application, and he was subsequently informed that the relevant correspondence had been forwarded to the Police Service Commission (PolSC).“I followed the requirements of the established process and I breached no protocols or policies,” Guevarro said.He said the appointment of an acting commissioner was not a matter for the TTPS or the Commissioner of Police but was governed by law and dealt with by the relevant authorities, according to their respective mandates.He said he was aware of public commentary about his absence and the appointment of an acting commissioner.Guevarro also addressed speculation about the reason for his emergency travel, saying several rumours had circulated, including claims that he had become ill, had travelled to investigate people who had money outside the country, or had gone abroad with a list of people whose visas were to be revoked.While he scoffed at the rumours, he said he was not at liberty to disclose the reason for the travel.However, Guevarro said that after returning to T&T, he briefed the chairperson of the National Security Council (NSC) and Minister of Homeland Security.The NSC is chaired by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.Guevarro said any further enquiries into the matter should be directed to them, and he would not comment fur­ther on the reason for his travel.No crisis Guevarro further rejected suggestions that the TTPS had been destabilised during his absence, adding that the service had a structure designed to maintain continuity when senior leadership was temporarily unavailable.“As for those who felt that Rome was burning in my absence, I want to reassure you that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is an institution built on structure, continuity and contingency,” he said.Guevarro said the TTPS had a hierarchical framework supported by executive officers who were capable of main­tain­ing operational stability.He said temporary leadership changes were part of the organisation’s structure and did not constitute a crisis.“Leadership transitions, tem­porary or otherwise, are not a crisis. They are part of the organisation’s design,” he said.Guevarro said he remained focused on the safety of the country, the integrity of the TTPS, and his responsibilities as CoP.He also criticised those he said had sought to politicise his absence and create controversy, telling them, “To those who chose to politicise the matter and attempted to manufacture scandal and bacchanal, all I will say is this, your petticoat is showing.”Asked to comment on Guevarro’s statement later yesterday, Alexander’s only reply was: “A responsible (Commissioner of Police) who is in charge of a responsible institution giving a very responsible response.”