National Security Minister Jack Warner yesterday reiterated his position that he knew nothing of the existence of the New Flying Squad Investigations Unit (NFSIU).Answering renewed Opposition questions about the NFSIU in the House of Representatives, Warner said he was also not aware the National Security Operations Centre (NSOC) had facilitated the establishment of an NFSIU.
On whether he had given any instruction to any official of the Ministry of National Security or any police official to liaise/talk/meet with any person towards the establishment of this so-called crime-fighting unit referred to as the NFSIU, he said: "No, I have never given any such instruction."
Mervyn Cordner, a former member of the Flying Squad, has maintained he formed the NFSIU with the blessings of Warner's ministry and the agents acting on the ministry's behalf assisted them with the start-up. He also claimed the unit had begun helping the police with investigations in the fight against crime.
Yesterday, on questions as to whether he or any agency under his purview had authorised the rental of property or vehicles for the NFSIU, Warner said: "I, as the Minister of National Security, gave no such authorisation to anyone under my purview. I'm not aware of anyone in my ministry who did so."He also said he had received no reports prepared by the NFSIU.
"And the Cabinet has never approved any such unit, " Warner added.He said he was also not aware that DCP Mervyn Richardson had received any instructions to liaise with the new Flying Squad.Nor, Warner said, was he aware of any "public admission" by any ministry official that vehicles were supplied to the NFSIU.He said he had not read a recent article on this claim by National Security Operations Centre head Garvin Heera.