The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service has rejected claims by former Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley, that he was placed on an INTERPOL watch list during recent travel through Antigua and Montserrat.
In a public statement, the TTPS confirmed that checks through its INTERPOL Bureau found no such listing, red notice, alert or flag linked to Dr Rowley’s name.
“Dr Rowley is not listed on any INTERPOL watch list or international notice,” the TTPS stated, adding that it had never submitted any information to INTERPOL that could justify such a listing.
"There is no record, directive, or procedural action from any department within the TTPS that supports the allegation of local involvement in the matter," the release asserted.
The TTPS said INTERPOL operates under strict protocols requiring official judicial or prosecutorial requests for such listings. It noted that these are managed through each country's National Central Bureau, which in Trinidad and Tobago falls under the purview of the Commissioner of Police, but does not give him unilateral authority to place or remove names.
Responding to Dr Rowley’s suggestion of political interference and state-sponsored defamation, the TTPS insisted it remains an “independent and apolitical institution”, saying there was no evidence of politically motivated conduct by any of its officers in relation to the matter.
Dr Rowley’s claims stem from an incident during his recent travel. He recounted two separate encounters at Antigua’s immigration checkpoints while transiting to Montserrat, then again on his return.
He said in both instances, immigration officers scanned his diplomatic passport and then detained him temporarily before escorting him to an executive lounge.
“I was then told … that the reason why I was delayed is because I was on a watch list,” he said.
The former PM said on his return trip, he was again stopped, and a supervisor told him the issue was due to mistaken identity.
“I asked, mistaken identity with whom?” he recounted to the media.
Back in Trinidad, Dr Rowley said he made checks through CARICOM contacts where he said he confirmed he was on the INTERPOL list.
He questioned how his name could have ended up in INTERPOL’s system, and pointed to possible action from local authorities.
In its release, the TTPS maintained that public commentary on such serious allegations must be based on fact.
It called for “responsible dialogue”, warning that reputational harm and institutional trust are at stake.