AG Ramlogan: 117 arrested since Tuesday evening; curfew order legal and valid

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said on Wednesday the declaration of a state of emergency prevented a national crisis.

Ramlogan and other members of the national security council spoke with reporters to give an update on the situation since the state of emergency took effect on Sunday night.

He was accompanied by National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy, Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs and Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Kenrick Maharaj.

Ramlogan stated that security forces detained 117 persons between 6 pm Tuesday and 8 am Wednesday 117 persons. He noted that 56 of them are members of gangs.

He added that among the detainees, 48 were for drugs, 4 for firearms related offences, one for a homicide, eight for other serious crimes. He said police also seized two firearms, 18 rounds of ammunition and one cartridge.

Ramlogan told reporters air and sea patrols have been intensified as the protective forces continue to increase patrols.

He urged citizens to continue to cooperate and provide whatever information they have that might help in the war on crime. He pledged to make more resources available to facilitate this.

Ramlogan said the emergency came after security agencies discovered an "immediate threat and endangerment of public safety". He said "innocent citizens could have lost their lives had we not declared a state of emergency and taken swift and immediate action."

Ramlogan added, "When the state of emergency was declared by his Excellency it was in response to intelligence received from the security agencies which we cannot share with the population but which I can assure you we averted a crisis," he said.

He also clarified an issue relating to the overseas trip made by Police Commissioner Wayne Gibbs. He said Gibbs got permission to travel to Brazil and this information has been relayed to the proper authorities.

Gibbs was in Brazil when the state of emergency was declared and Deputy Commissioner Stephen Williams was acting although his status was not formalised.

Ramlogan said the Police service commissioner has sorted that out by retroactively appointing Williams to act in the position of Commissioner of Police from August 19 to 23. That means that Williams acted lawfully when he signed the curfew order.

The AG also spoke about the possibility of any industrial action during the curfew. he said there are contingency plans in place to deal with that.