SECURITY THREATBy NALINEE SEELAL and ANNA-LISA PAUL Thursday, November 24 2011
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is expected to address the nation today in the aftermath of the arrests of five persons detained in connection with information that they along with others plotted to assassinate her and two government ministers.
Yesterday, Persad-Bissessar could not be reached for comment on the alleged assassination plot, however, sources said security has been tightened around the Prime Minister, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal.
Five persons including a police sergeant, the son of a wealthy businessman, two ex-soldiers and a Central-based businessman were detained between Monday and yesterday.
The plot was discovered two weeks ago by Special Branch officers who began working closely with officers from the Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU) which led to the arrest of the five suspects.
National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister, Capt Gary Griffith when contacted on the alleged assassination plot said, “I can confirm there has been heightened security around the Prime Minister and because of this we have also increased security measures (nationwide).”
He was not willing to divulge any further information for security reasons. A source told Newsday Persad-Bissessar, Ramlogan and Moonilal, who is also the Government Chief Whip in the House of Representatives, were briefed by Special Branch on the information received and they were all deeply concerned, not only for their safety, but for the security of the country.
Persad-Bissessar attended a press briefing with a visiting energy official at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s yesterday, but Communications Minister Suruj Rambachan asked the media not to discuss any domestic matters during the briefing.
On Monday, a Central-based businessman was arrested and up to yesterday remained in custody at a Port-of-Spain police station. Also on Monday, two ex-soldiers from the Cumuto area were also detained by CIU officers.
Police also raided a camp in the Wallerfield area where they seized a quantity of photos and other material which were being closely examined up until late yesterday.
Shortly after 2 pm yesterday, investigators went to a police station in the Port-of-Spain Division where they detained a police sergeant with over 25 years service and took him to another Port-of-Spain station for questioning and he remained there up until late yesterday.
The fifth person believed to be connected to the assassination plot was arrested at his north Trinidad home by officers of the North Eastern Division Task Force and Special Branch.
The 28-year-old man, who is before the courts on a possession of a cache of arms and ammunition charge, was taken to a police station in the North Eastern Division where he remained under police guard.
Police sources revealed Special Branch and CIU officers began questioning the five suspects who are expected to be kept in custody through the use of a detention order. This will be the first time that detention orders will be used since the implementation of the state of emergency on August 21. Police sources revealed the assassination attempt would have taken place today, and would have involved the use of explosives and guns being fired off as the targets left the weekly Cabinet meeting, which is held either at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair or the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s.
It remained unclear whether Cabinet’s weekly meeting will take place today as a result of the new information coming to hand or whether it will take place at an undisclosed location.
Newsday also understands more persons linked to the assassination plot were expected to be picked up and detained during last night.
Yesterday at about 2 pm, all officers of the TT Defence Force, Coast Guard, Cadets, Air Guard, and all reserve officers were ordered to report to their respective bases by midnight.
Also yesterday, Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Kenrick Maharaj, Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs, Deputy Commissioner Mervyn Richardson and other top law enforcement officers, as well as the Attorney General and Minister of National Security Brigadier John Sandy, remained in a closed door meeting for several hours to discuss ways of dealing with the security threat.
High-profile security officials were expected to meet again last night to decide the way forward in preserving law and order while at the same time protecting the lives of the Prime Minister, Attorney General and Housing Minister.
The last time police received information about an attempt to assassinate the Prime Minister and her Attorney General was in August, days after the state of emergency was declared, when a man was detained in North Trinidad at a luxury apartment, and police claimed they discovered photos of the Prime Minister and other documents which suggested there was a plot to target the Prime Minister, the Attorney General and the National Security Minister.
