Saturday, December 10, 2011

Rowley asks President Richards to determine if PM misused armed forces

Keith Rowley has written President George Maxwell Richards to determine whether there was a possible misuse and abuse of the Armed Forces by the Government with respect to the alleged assassination plot against the Prime Minister and three Cabinet Ministers.

The Opposition Leader's letter referred to the Prime Minister's statement on November 24, 2011 that her Government had uncovered a plot to assassinate her and three members of her cabinet.

"In response to this development, the Armed Forces were mobilised, defensive positions were taken up, snipers were positioned at the Prime Minister's official and private residence, and all other operational security paraphernalia were fully mobilised," Rowley said in the letter.

He added, "The supposed targets were surrounded by impressive and expensive security details, including permanent travel by helicopter for the Prime Minister. All these, in full public glare."

Rowley said the story was headline news on the BBC, CBC, CNN, Times of India, Reuters, Associated Press, Taipei Times, Australian and New Zealand News and elsewhere around the world, with the result that some countries issued travel advisories cautioning their nationals about travel to Trinidad and Tobago.

"The Honourable Prime Minister made a comprehensive, unambiguous, political speech, in which it was implied categorically that she was satisfied that her life was in danger as a reprisal for the success against drug dealers during the recently concluded State of Emergency, which in my view, had become a political embarrassment to the Government and one which was petering out in a matter of days, in a climate of uncertainty.

"In my capacity as Opposition Leader, I was offered, and accepted, an opportunity to be briefed by the Police, on the direction of the Prime Minister, to clarify the basis for these developments.

"Having had the benefit of the briefing and upon putting searching questions the Police on the matter, I concluded that the Honourable Prime Minister was "playing politics" with our security systems and that there existed, no real basis for the hysteria and abuse of the Armed Forces and security services as was being perpetrated by the Government.

"Your Excellency, the Police was unable to provide me with any credible and tangible information to justify or warrant what was being said and done by the Honourable Prime Minister and other government officials, as at November 24th 2011. I so advised the national community."

Rowley said he received from "a highly credible source" two security documents dated November 18th and November 23rd with information that contradicted what Government officials and security officials had to say on the matter.

He said based on that he believes the Prime Minister did not act in good faith when she informed the nation one day later of the threat.

"The content of the report of November 23rd 2011 is damning of the actions of the Honourable Prime Minister and the Minister of National Security in respect of their actions from November 24th to the present.

"They continue to mislead the public and abuse innocent citizens for the purpose of political image-making to the benefit of the political executive of Trinidad and Tobago.

"The Opposition makes specific allegations of serious misconduct on the part of these two officeholders and since it involves the use and abuse of the Armed Force, I draw it to your attention in your capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces."

Rowley asked the president to establish the authenticity of the evaluation report of November 23rd 2011.

"I am sure Your Excellency will appreciate the urgent need to determine the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth in this matter and the further need to advise the national community of your findings.

"Failure to close this matter in this way, is to leave a stain on our national records and provide protection for serious wrongdoing on the part of high-ranking office holders.

"Such a development will contribute to the festering demoralisation of the security services, especially the Police, since these developments also bring into sharp focus the role and function of the Commissioner of Police in all the recent developments," he said.

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Jai & Sero

Jai & Sero

Our family at home in Toronto 2008

Our family at home in Toronto 2008
Amit, Heather, Fuzz, Aj, Jiv, Shiva, Rampa, Sero, Jai