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| File: Former PM Basdeo Panday |
The information is contained in the first annual report on the Interception of Communications Act 2010, laid in Parliament by leader of government business Dr Roodal Moonilal.
Parliament unanimously approved the new legislation after the current prime minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, revealed that during the Manning administration large scale illegal spying was conducted on top politicians, private citizens, journalists and the president.
Parliament unanimously approved the new legislation after the current prime minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, revealed that during the Manning administration large scale illegal spying was conducted on top politicians, private citizens, journalists and the president.
The new law allows phone-tapping under certain conditions. One requirement was for an annual report be laid in Parliament.
National Security Minister John Sandy prepared and presented the report that stated the first year of the legislation was carried out as a preliminary phase.
National Security Minister John Sandy prepared and presented the report that stated the first year of the legislation was carried out as a preliminary phase.
It also said in the first year no applications were made to the court for a warrant to conduct interceptions for evidentiary purposes and “as a consequence, no prosecutions were initiated based on judicial warrants.”
The report added: “During the period under review, no prosecutions were initiated for breach of the act.”
For the period under review, the Director of the Strategic Services Agency authorised 267 interceptions. The Commissioner of Police and the Chief of Defence Staff carried out none. A breakdown of the interceptions are:
- Counter-narcotics—109 (20 arrests/detentions; cocaine, marijuana seized)
- Counter-terrorism—42 (17 arrests/detentions; foreign currency seized)
- Human trafficking—2
- Serious crime—24
- Arms and ammunition—3
- State of emergency—87
The report said the SSA is facing various challenges to the optimal use of the act. They include “legislative boundaries, ambiguities in interpretations and limited co-operation from a named telecommunication-service provider.”
The report added that intelligence-gathering via interception is “vital,” noting that the information gathered would be converted into “useful security intelligence and evidence.”
The report gave the assurance that "if the act is managed in accordance with the rule of the law, we can prevent, respond to and recover from all threats and hazards that may impact the security of Trinidad and Tobago.”
Commenting on the report, Panday said he was not aware of any phone-tapping while he was prime minister. He explained that such matters were handled by the security agencies. However he said if it was in fact carried out it would have been done in the interest of national security.
The report gave the assurance that "if the act is managed in accordance with the rule of the law, we can prevent, respond to and recover from all threats and hazards that may impact the security of Trinidad and Tobago.”
Commenting on the report, Panday said he was not aware of any phone-tapping while he was prime minister. He explained that such matters were handled by the security agencies. However he said if it was in fact carried out it would have been done in the interest of national security.
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