As the killers of special prosecutor Dana Seetahal, SC, remain on the loose, the country's national security status has been heightened and has been changed from green to amber to hinder further threats to national security.National Security Minister Gary Griffith said yesterday that was a result of the events leading to Seetahal's murder and in keeping with the guidelines laid out in the national alert state, public warning and information policy.He added: "The significance of implementing this state of alert was to stymie any possible threat to national security and key public officials. This was assessed as a precautionary measure in the event that other state officials, members of the Judiciary or members of Government may also have been targeted.
"In this regard, security agencies were informed to take measures against plausible risks of a hazard or threat, including the use of means that are moderately disruptive to normal public activities, while preparing to switch to orange or red on short notice, if the conditions surrounding the threat changed." He said law enforcement officers had combined forces and were doing all in their power to bring the perpetrators to justice but he could not say if the police had made any breakthrough in the investigation into Seetahal's murder.Saying they had "a lot of work to do," Griffith said: "There is the footage from the CCTV camera. We have to find out whether she may have had any threats in the last few days or weeks which we may not know of and other things to be examined."
Griffith also called on people not to panic, insisting the situation was under control."There will be increased air, land and maritime patrols in all areas of interest. There will also be stop-and-search teams and increased roadblocks."We cannot and should not draw conclusion based on perception or based on her career. We must remain calm because the police are doing their job and I have every confidence in them," he added.Urging people to give information, he said it would be treated in the strictest of confidentiality.People can call 511, 999, Crime Stoppers at 800-8477 or the NOC at 627-0408.