President of the Public Services Association (PSA) Watson Duke was detained and questioned by the police on Monday.
Duke was reportedly detained hours after Special Branch officers conducted a search of the PSA’s Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain headquarters although the PSA leader was not there at the time of their search.
In a release issued on Monday evening, the T&T Police Service confirmed that Duke had been detained and that Police Commissioner Gary Griffith had been briefed by relevant units of the TTPS “on a matter involving Mr Duke.” It added that investigations are continuing.
However, a senior police officer last night confirmed that Duke was detained in an ongoing probe they started over comments he made a few months ago but refused to give further details on his utterances as the case was at a sensitive stage.
Guardian Media understands that Duke complained of feeling unwell shortly after being detained by the officers. He was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, treated and released back into their custody. Duke’s wife and senior PSA executives were reportedly at Duke’s side while he was at hospital.
The search at Duke’s office began around 1 pm following the execution of a search warrant by the officers. The PSA boss was, however, at the time at another location on union business.
When the police entered the four-storey building, therefore, Duke was not there. PSA employees were reportedly caught by surprise when the officers said they were there to conduct a search of the premises.
At around 4.15 pm, a uniformed officer emerged from the building carrying what resembled a toolbox and placed it in the truck of an unmarked police vehicle which was parked on the roadside. Shortly after, six plainclothes officers were spotted leaving the building after conducting their investigations.
Calls to Duke’s cellphone went unanswered Monday evening.
Duke, who is also the Minority Leader of the Tobago House of Assembly, is noted for his harsh criticism against the ruling People’s National Movement Government for their lack of governance. He often criticises the Dr Keith Rowley-led Government in live posts on social media platform Facebook.
In one of his latest such live feeds on Facebook last Thursday, Duke said he was shocked, perturbed and upset over remarks made by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley that many servants public servants are unproductive.
Duke said Rowley was turning his failure from managing the public service away from himself and placing it on public servants.
“It worries me. It worries me. It worries all 80,000 public servants of this country and it hurts to the core,” Duke said.
In the audio clip, Duke also a called on Rowley to “shut your stink mouth.”
Last March, the National Infrastructure Development Company called on Duke to apologise after he accused the Government of attempting to murder passengers on board a water taxi which caught fire while it was in service, stating people could have died.
NIDCO viewed Duke’s statement as defamatory, reckless and malicious.
In May, Duke also got into hot water with the PNM’s Tobago Council after he posted a video statement calling on Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles to resign over the murders of businessman John Mills and his wife Eulyn John.
The council called on Duke to apologise to the family of the deceased couple, who were friends of Rowley. The council said the family’s grief must never be used as a vehicle upon which political mileage may be obtained.