Government is not at liberty to publish names of those detained under the state of emergency (SOE) operations until they are arrested and charged, according to Attorney General Anand Ramlogan.
Speaking at the daily state of emergency media briefing Ramlogan was commenting on a call by Fr Clyde Harvey for Government to publish the names of the detainees. He said Government was not entitled to publish detainees' names until they were arrested and charged and could risk defamation suits if this was published ahead of proper process. Saying he had raised the issue, Ramlogan said several detainees had also said they didn't want their names published this since their families didn't know they were in gangs.
Ramlogan said Government therefore also risked reprisals from such persons who didn't want their names published. On another issue, Ramlogan said the President had signed the order regarding seizure of scrap iron. This exercise began on Sunday. Ramlogan said there had been a problem with scrap iron yards and for the purposes of dealing with any situation arising during a public emergency, he said, authorities could seize any scrap metals in T&T. Owners will be compensated and courts can also handle compensation entitlement claims, Ramlogan added. He said "This is to deal with the peculiar problem involved which has implications for the operations we're on. It is driven by intelligence received by the (law enforcement) agencies,"
Security officials say information had been received that scrap iron was being used to manufacture home made guns and that guns were sometimes hidden in scrap iron piles to avoid detection by metal detectors. National Security Minister John Sandy said while Independence parades will be on as usual tomorrow for T&T's 49th anniversary, the state of emergency will not be relaxed. On whether police had taken action against the 14 year old who had issued a Facebook death threat against the Prime Minister, Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs said the police are "still looking at it." On whether further death threats have been received regarding the PM or any other Government members, Gibbs said he couldn't comment for national security reasons. (GA)