Counsel: In the year 1990, could you tell us whether Club 88 had formed itself into a political party? Do you recall?
Robinson: I don't recall whether they had yet formed themselves into a political party.
Counsel: In 1990, who was the official Opposition Leader?
Robinson: The official Leader of the Opposition, so far as I could remember, in 1990, it was Mr Manning.
Counsel: But in 1990, the so-called members of Club 88 were in effect opposing the NAR. Would that be a correct statement?
Robinson: That's correct.
Counsel: Did anyone of your captors come to you and ask you to communicate with the Regiment or the Protective Services in any way whatsoever?
Robinson: Yes, the person whose name I subsequently found out was Bilaal Abdullah. He came to me with his gun and microphone as I lay on the floor asked me whether I would do what I was instructed to do. And I said yes. I had just finished reading Vidia Naipaul's book Among the Believers, so I had gathered from that book some impression about the character of these Muslim fanatics. That's why I said yes, but I had intended to oppose whatever they asked me to do.
He then left me and went, and I thought that he had gone to consult with Abu Bakr. I did not know, but that was my impression. He came back, holding the gun nearby and putting the microphone to my mouth and said, 'Will you instruct the Regiment to withdraw and lay down their guns because the government has fallen?'
I receive that instruction with revulsion. I thought it was not only impertinent, I thought I could not possibly do anything of the sort and should do just the opposite. So I shouted to the Regiment, 'These are murders and torturers. Attack with full force!'
Counsel: What was Abdullah's reaction to that?
Robinson: He drew back-it appeared to be in shock-but a young man who was a short distance away fired a gun. I don't know whether he intended the direction in which it went-but it passed through my right knee, hitting me on the right side and exiting on the left side. That's the bullet . My medical advisers told me that if the bullet had diverted about half an inch differently I would have died in a short space of time.
Counsel: Now you spoke about having asked Mr Dookeran to negotiate with the Muslimeen. Did Mr Dookeran leave the Chamber at any time, to your knowledge?
Robinson: I don't know because I was lying on the floor bleeding and hearing commotion around me, so I was not observing Mr Dookeran.
Counsel: Did you observe whether Canon Knolly Clarke came into the Parliament?
Robinson: Yes, I did. I saw him, I recognised him . He came in and walked straight by me as though he did not recognise me and I felt very saddened by this. That somebody like Canon Knolly Clarke would pass by the prime minister and not even recognise him, or if he did recognise him, not even acknowledge that he had seen him. I am sure that he was in a position to see me.
Counsel: While in captivity, were you handed any envelope by the Muslimeen?
Robinson: Yes, at one stage I was handed an envelope by one of the Muslimeen who whispered to me, 'From your wife.'
Counsel: Did you open the envelope, Sir?
Robinson: I was really surprised at this because I thought these people were inhuman. And now I felt, well, they are human after all (Smile across his face). I opened the envelope and saw a bit of paper with a note, and I read the note, only three words, "I love you, Patricia," who was my wife and that strengthened me because I did not know what was happening to her or to my children.
Counsel: Were you aware that the national television station TTT was also under siege?
Robinson: No, I didn't know of anything happening outside.
Counsel: Was any member of the Muslimeen stationed near to you to guard you?
Robinson: Yes, there was a young man with what I recognised as a tall gun. It was higher than he was.
Counsel: It has been said, Excellency, that certain members of your government had some information that an insurrection was likely in the country. How do you respond to that?
Robinson: I would say that it was never brought to my notice that there was either knowledge or a fear that an insurrection would take place. I and others always regarded the Muslimeen as persons who had no regard for the law.
Counsel: But why was that?
Robinson: That was because of their continuing course of conduct. They disregarded decisions of the court, disregarded the rights of the State for occupied land which was not theirs and generally sought to behave as though they were members of the police, but errant members of the police, seeking to perform duties which the police should perform but really as acts of law-breaking.
Counsel: Was there any agency such as a National Security Council at the time of the coup?
Robinson: There was a Minister of National Security, who was Selwyn Richardson, but as far as I am aware, there was no committee, any gathering or any institution, as the case might be, that had some responsibility apart from the security services or national security.
Counsel: How were threats of national security brought to your attention?
Robinson: It would be brought to the attention, firstly, of the Minister of National Security and the Minister of National Security would bring it to my attention."
Counsel: Prior to July 27, 1990, did you as a practising politician have any relationship with the Muslimeen or Yasin Abu Bakr.
Robinson: No.
Counsel: Were you ever invited in an official or even unofficial capacity to visit the compound at Mucurapo where the Muslimeen had their headquarters?
Robinson: (After some 30 seconds) I don't know. I don't think so but if I went I would have been attended by other members of the Cabinet and by an entourage, including my Permanent Secretary and members of the Police Service.
Counsel: Again as a practising politician, did you regard the Muslimeen as a political factor or force in the national politics of Trinidad and Tobago?
Robinson: No, I never regarded the Muslimeen as a political force. I regarded them as a fanatical group that did not care for law or order, except to pursue their own ends as they could.