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| File: National Security Minister Jack Warner |
The National Security Minister made the comment at Thursday's post cabinet media briefing. He said Mayor Louis Lee Sing called him and invited him to a 9am meeting at his office on August 15th, saying it was important but gave no further details.
"I readily agreed. Admittedly, I did not see that the extension of an invitation from the Mayor of Port of Spain as being one arising out of Balisier House," he said.
"I did not see the intention of that invitation as even one from a PNM elected Mayor. I did not see it as a Rowley-inspired agenda. I accepted the invitation to attend the meeting at the Mayor's office in Port of Spain merely because of the Mayor of Port of Spain and in fact, I have had several meetings there before," he added.
Warner said when he arrived for the meeting he was surprised to see Duke and the others. He added that Lee Sing told him that he called the meeting to talk about reducing crime in the Laventille area.
"I was told by the Mayor that a collaborative approach and consultation with those who sought peace in Laventille would be productive and he proposed a larger meeting on Wednesday August 22nd at St. Paul Street Community Centre at 10am.
"I took the decision that the meeting of last Wednesday, that meeting that I was in some ways duped into attending, and I felt that the one that was being planned for yesterday (Aug. 22) should be one which would involve the law enforcement officials.
"I left the place of entrapment, that is the Mayor's office, which I believe had been intended for me, and I immediately called a meeting with the Acting Commissioner of Police, Stephen Williams, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mervyn Williams, and the Chief of Defense Staff, Kenrick Maharaj.
"This took place at 10:30am at the Ministry of National Security, exactly 20 minutes after the conclusion of the meeting at the Mayor's office," Warner stated.
He said he told the law enforcement personnel about what transpired and suggested that the senior officers of the Police Service and Defense Force were better suited to attend the meeting scheduled for Wednesday.
"All of them agreed and they also felt that there should be a representative from the Ministry of National Security as well. The next meeting was held yesterday (Wednesday) at the St. Paul Street Community facility at 10am. I did not attend," he stated.
"Interestingly enough, the Mayor of Port of Spain, who had agreed to the hosting of the meeting, and had promised his attendance, reneged on his promise and did not attend yesterday's (Wednesday's) meeting (which)...took place without my presence and I am further advised that the list of issues raised by members in attendance were the need for peace in the Laventille community, sustainable jobs, security for the Life Sport programme, and the rehabilitation of the St. Paul Street Playground."
The National Security Minister said a media report indicating that he held a meeting with gang leaders was false. He suggested that reporters ask why the Mayor called Mr. Warner to the meeting on August 15th.
"Why didn't he attend yesterday's (Wednesday's) meeting? Or was he hoping that I would have been stupid enough to arrive there in the glare of the hidden cameras that were planted there from the media? Was the meeting idea an hour of entrapment hatched at Balisier House?" he wondered.
Minister Warner reiterated that the Government would not negotiate law and order. "Jack Warner imposes it, he doesn't negotiate it. At the end of the day the question must be asked why would they go to such lengths to entrap me."
Warner pledged that he will succeed, despite plots and moves to see him fail.
In a response to Warner's charges, Lee Sing denied that he plotted to set up the minister. However he admitted knowing about the meeting. Lee Sing said he did not attend Wednesday's meeting because he did not hear from the minister.
He said he told the law enforcement personnel about what transpired and suggested that the senior officers of the Police Service and Defense Force were better suited to attend the meeting scheduled for Wednesday.
"All of them agreed and they also felt that there should be a representative from the Ministry of National Security as well. The next meeting was held yesterday (Wednesday) at the St. Paul Street Community facility at 10am. I did not attend," he stated.
"Interestingly enough, the Mayor of Port of Spain, who had agreed to the hosting of the meeting, and had promised his attendance, reneged on his promise and did not attend yesterday's (Wednesday's) meeting (which)...took place without my presence and I am further advised that the list of issues raised by members in attendance were the need for peace in the Laventille community, sustainable jobs, security for the Life Sport programme, and the rehabilitation of the St. Paul Street Playground."
The National Security Minister said a media report indicating that he held a meeting with gang leaders was false. He suggested that reporters ask why the Mayor called Mr. Warner to the meeting on August 15th.
"Why didn't he attend yesterday's (Wednesday's) meeting? Or was he hoping that I would have been stupid enough to arrive there in the glare of the hidden cameras that were planted there from the media? Was the meeting idea an hour of entrapment hatched at Balisier House?" he wondered.
Minister Warner reiterated that the Government would not negotiate law and order. "Jack Warner imposes it, he doesn't negotiate it. At the end of the day the question must be asked why would they go to such lengths to entrap me."
Warner pledged that he will succeed, despite plots and moves to see him fail.
In a response to Warner's charges, Lee Sing denied that he plotted to set up the minister. However he admitted knowing about the meeting. Lee Sing said he did not attend Wednesday's meeting because he did not hear from the minister.
Source: CNMG
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