Authorities to probe phone-tapping allegation

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said Friday she would refer to the law enforcement authorities allegations by Laventille East/Morvant MP Donna Cox that the phones of Opposition members and some Government ministers are being tapped.

Cox made the statement during the debate on the Defence Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives.

The Prime Minister said she has asked the Minister of National Security to get a copy of the Hansard and give it to the authorities "who are responsible for making sure that if there is some intercept taking place, that it is legal."

Persad-Bissessar noted that only three officers under the Act can give authorisation for the tapping of phones—the Commissioner of Police, the Chief of Defence Staff and the head of the Strategic Services Agency.

"Any other tapping would be illegal. So I would ask the minister to provide the Hansard to the three heads so they can investigate the allegation being made by the Member for Laventille East/Morvant," Persad-Bissessar said.