Senior Reporter
jensen.lavende@guardian.co.tt
Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander says although most of the detainees held under the State of Emergency (SoE) were released after it ended, it does not mean they can’t be charged in the future.
Speaking at a media conference at the United National Congress head office in Chaguanas yesterday, Alexander said of the 182 people detained under SoE orders, at least 43 were charged.
Asked about the police’s inability to convert information into evidence in order to warrant charges against the remaining 139 ex-detainees, Alexander said the investigations are ongoing.
“Investigations are not stalled. So, persons may have been released, but persons will eventually be charged as evidence comes forward. We have done, the ministry has done everything necessary under the law, with the guidance of the law, to put together or to detain persons as you would have seen,” he said.
Among those released were men held in relation to the alleged plot to murder Defence Minister Wayne Sturge. Asked if there were any concerns over Sturge’s safety and that of citizens in general, Alexander said, “What I can assure you is that Mr Sturge is good. He’s safe at this time. However, the investigations continue.
“Some of the persons did not reach the threshold that charges were laid immediately. However, that doesn’t take away the fact that charges may eventually be laid. The Homeland Security, together with the TTPS and others, we will do whatever we have to, to protect our citizens. Again, this will be done by any lawful means necessary.”
The former police officer said while there is no lack of resources within the police service to pursue the matters against the former detainees, he could not say how much more time might be needed to secure evidence in order to charge them.
Asked if the police may need another SoE to gather the required evidence, Alexander reiterated the statements made by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar that the Government was prepared to do so if the need arose.
“I support what my Prime Minister already said, if the criminals cannot behave themselves, then maybe we have to force them to. The criminals are not more important than our good citizens in Trinidad and Tobago. So, if the good citizens want to live in peace, and the criminals cause them not to, then we must remove someone from somewhere. We intend to live here as good, law-abiding citizens, so then, the criminals might be the problem.”
After the SoE ended on Saturday, inmates at Teteron Barracks, which became an official prison during the SoE, began a hunger strike demanding that they be returned to the “regular” prisons.
Accusing prison and police officials of employing “psychological warfare tactics” to break them, the 11 inmates still at Teteron Barracks called on the Government to return them to regular detention.
Questioned about this, Alexander said, “As soon as things are completed in a particular place, and all is well, people might return. However, remember, there are persons, there are areas that was designated as prisons.”
