Israeli experts destroyed secret SIA files: Volney

Justice Minister Herbert Volney says two Israeli men have destroyed the secret files that were illegally obtained during the Manning administration by the Security Intelligence Agency (SIA).

In an interview with the Express newspaper, the MP for St Joseph said only former Prime Minister Patrick Manning can clear the air on the destruction of the files.

"There was a group of men from Israel who were here and they were thrashing all the files so that what we came across were empty folders, that is what alerted the Prime Minister to bring the Commissioner of Police in to prevent it from continuing. So I think that most of it has been thrashed already. All the secrets of the last Government have been thrashed," Volney charged.

He told the paper very little has remained. "A few e-mails and that sort of thing, as far as I know. This whole thing is so shrouded in secrecy that I really don't know the extent of what is left." Volney said only the "end part" of the SIA files were found and the names of the people who were spied upon.

He admitted that he doesn't know more about the Israelis. "I don't know where they are. Their presence here at the SIA is what alerted someone to bring it to the attention of the Prime Minister and she then called in the Attorney General and Minister of National Security."

Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs ordered a raid on the offices of the SIA on October 23 on the request of the Prime Minister. Last month she exposed the illegal operations of the SIA, which targeted a wide range of persons including President Richards, politicians, judges, journalists and others. The SIA was also spying on Persad-Bissessar.

Since then Parliament has passed legislation to legalise wiretapping but only under extreme circumstances and with the approval of the designated authorities. The bill won the support of the opposition.

Volney told the paper Manning owes the people of the country an explanation.

"He sits in Parliament every Friday in silence. Why? Because he's the only one who really knows everything and he sits there in Parliament, and at four o'clock at the tea break he leaves to go. He is not representing the people of San Fernando East.

"He has a duty as the former prime minister to clear the air, but you see the problem with him is that he knows all the secrets," the minister said.