Senior Reporter
jensen.lavende@guardian.co.tt
Relatives of pastor Ian Brown, the man at the centre of the recent Strategic Services Agency (SSA) shake-up, are worried that he may be in danger, as they have not seen or heard from him in several days.
Speaking with Guardian Media at his Aleong Street, Malabar home yesterday, a relative of Brown, who did not want to be named, said they are praying for his safe return. He said Brown is believed to have gone into hiding after police searched his home and churches on March 9.
Brown, a self-professed spy who claimed he was trained in both Israel and Germany, is currently at the centre of a probe into the affairs of the SSA and had his Special Reserve Police (SRP) status revoked by the T&T Police Service on Tuesday. Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher confirmed the revocation of his status at a media briefing on Thursday.
Brown was appointed an SRP in 2011 by then-police commissioner Gary Griffith at the request of former SSA director Major Roger Best and was immediately assigned to the SSA. He was reportedly Best’s “prophetic adviser” and earned a consulting fee from the agency of about $25,000 per month.
In an interview with Guardian Media on Monday, Brown said he was still in possession of his SSA-issued firearm. During the search of Brown’s home, police seized two wireless radios and two police uniforms among other things. Police also searched Brown’s two churches, Jerusalem Bride in Malabar, and Eden Restored in Cumuto.
Last week, there were rumours that Brown had died by suicide, which he dismissed in a media report. He added that he was, at the time, fearful for his life.
When Guardian Media visited his church in Malabar yesterday, the sign that previously welcomed members and visitors was removed.
Guardian Media peeked through the curtain of the locked church at the Clovis Building and saw the furniture still there. A resident said he could not say when last the church had a service.
The church was purportedly an exclusive one with most of the attendees being members of the protective services, some senior members of the SSA.
On March 2, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) posted a message on its Facebook page noting that the National Security Council, chaired by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, had recommended that the head of the country’s spy intelligence organisation Major Best be replaced immediately.
Best was sent on administrative leave, and the T&T’s ambassador to the United States, retired Brigadier General Anthony Phillips-Spencer, was recalled and appointed acting director.
Phillips-Spencer is now spearheading an internal audit of the SSA, after the Prime Minister said he received information from the police of misconduct taking place with the use of State resources.