When Kamla persad-Bissessar complained that a secret agency was spying on her and other citizens, the Manning administration quickly dismissed it as being without substance. As Prime Minister she raised the issue again and her critics suggested that it was not true.
On Wednesday the public learned that a raid last month found the evidence.
On Wednesday the public learned that a raid last month found the evidence.
Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs ordered a raid on a secret agency within the National Security Ministry and found an extensive list that included Persad-Bissessar and private citizens, whose phone calls, text messages and e-mails have been monitored over five years.
The targets of the "spy agency" included politicians of all parties, independent senators, trade unionists, High Court and Appeal Court judges, county councillors, business people, academics, media people, lawyers in private practice and popular comedians.
The raid was conducted on October 23 at offices of the Security Intelligence Agency (SIA). In addition to the list, police found $5.9 million in cash a fireproof safe and a stash of firearms.
Reports said the SIA operated out of various safe houses and ran private companies as fronts for channelling of millions of dollars of cash to people described as "informants".
The targets of the "spy agency" included politicians of all parties, independent senators, trade unionists, High Court and Appeal Court judges, county councillors, business people, academics, media people, lawyers in private practice and popular comedians.
The raid was conducted on October 23 at offices of the Security Intelligence Agency (SIA). In addition to the list, police found $5.9 million in cash a fireproof safe and a stash of firearms.
Reports said the SIA operated out of various safe houses and ran private companies as fronts for channelling of millions of dollars of cash to people described as "informants".
The People's Partnership administration has taken swift action and fired Nigel Clement, director of both the Strategic Services Agency and the SIA.
At the same time it has hired two Canadian technology security experts to check for further phone tapping evidence and to develop a secure communications network for use by the Prime Minister and top officials
The government is also reviewing and reorganising state security and it is planning to present a bill to Parliament Friday that would make it illegal to intercept private communication, unless a High Court judge authorises such action.
The Prime Minister, who is the chair of the National Security Council, has been weekly briefed by National Security Ministry agencies since she took office more than five months ago. However it was only after the raid was conducted that he was told about the "spy" agency's activities.
The government is also reviewing and reorganising state security and it is planning to present a bill to Parliament Friday that would make it illegal to intercept private communication, unless a High Court judge authorises such action.
The Prime Minister, who is the chair of the National Security Council, has been weekly briefed by National Security Ministry agencies since she took office more than five months ago. However it was only after the raid was conducted that he was told about the "spy" agency's activities.
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