KAY-MARIE FLETCHER
Senior Reporter
kay-marie.fletch[email protected]
Several senators, including members on the Government’s side, yesterday revealed they were completely unaware of the security threat which Attorney General John Jeremie claimed caused extra vigilance at last week’s parliamentary sitting.
When Guardian Media visited the Red House yesterday, those in the Upper House admitted they were left in the dark.
Asked about Jeremie’s claim of a security threat against parliamentarians, Trade, Investment and Tourism Minister Satyakama Maharaj said, “I don’t know anything.”
Similarly, Independent Senators Francis Lewis, Anthony Vieira and Courtney McNish were all left puzzled by questions about heightened security at the Parliament.
Lewis responded, “Threat? Goodness, no. Sorry. If I’m looking befuddled, it’s because I am befuddled.”
Vieira added, “I wasn’t aware that there was any threat last Friday either. I thought that there was a visiting dignitary from India.”
And McNish said, “I haven’t heard the news. I don’t know what threat was spoken about, when it was spoken about.”
With some senators uninformed, Guardian Media pressed the head of the Parliamentary Police Unit, Inspector Sean Sookram, for answers.
When asked if there were any increased security protocols or if everyone was safe under his watch, Inspector Sookram replied twice, “I have no comments to make in that regard.”
However, when asked if anyone should be concerned about their safety at the Red House, he said, “We should be concerned every day.”
Other security personnel assigned to the Parliament also told Guardian Media they were unaware of any threats to Members of Parliament and Government officials, while staff at the Parliament appeared unbothered by any claims of threats when entering and exiting the building yesterday.
However, TTPS intelligence sources said they were aware of two Government ministers who had increased police officers assigned to them.
While the names of the ministers were not disclosed, Guardian Media yesterday observed additional security vehicles upon Jeremie’s arrival at the Red House.
The Attorney General did not stop to take questions from the media.
Meanwhile, criminologist Dr Randy Seepersad says the threat should not be dismissed. He also applauded the Government for being transparent, but warned that revealing too much could compromise the investigation.
Dr Seepersad said, “It’s normal procedure where some things may be said to the public and some things may not be said to the public. This doesn’t necessarily mean that there isn’t a threat or that the threat is fabricated or anything like that. I will take it very seriously and I would understand and appreciate that the Government is sharing some level of information and at least the fact that there is a threat or has been a threat to the public, it shows that the Government is transparent.”
While Opposition has called the AG’s claims a “deception” and an excuse to extend the State of Emergency (SoE), the senators aren’t convinced an extension would effectively reduce crime.
McNish said, “I am not sure whether or not this SoE had any significant impact on crime, but I’m always of the view that an SoE generally does but I am not sure...”
Asked if he believes the SoE should be extended, Vieira replied, “I’m not too sure about that... I think with all of this, we need to recalibrate. We need to step back and say look, ‘how do we make this a safer society. How do we tackle the roots of crime’ because the war efforts doesn’t seem to be working.”
Guardian Media reached out to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on the matter but up to press time, there was no response.
The current SoE will expire in mid-June.
