Colombian drug gang bloodbath 'averted' 
PNM leader: Govt members whispered cock-and-bull story
By Ria Taitt Political Editor
Story Created: Sep 6, 2011 at 11:54 PM ECT
Story Updated: Sep 6, 2011 at 11:54 PM ECT http://www.trinidadexpress.com...rted_-129352588.html
Government spokesmen have told the Opposition PNM that the state of emergency was called because a Colombian drug gang wanted to kill members of a Trinidad and Tobago drug gang, following the $22 million drug bust at Piarco.
So stated Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley yesterday.
"When the debate was over and we were dispersing in the crowd and talking amongst our parliamentarian colleagues, government spokespersons came to the Opposition, whispering in our ears as good friends well-met, 'we can't tell the country but we could tell you that the real reason is this: that the cocaine that they pick up in the two suitcases in Piarco, belonged to a Colombian drug gang and Trinidad drug gang was supposed to guard it in Trinidad for it to be shipped out, and that (Trinidad) gang allowed the Government (the law enforcement authorities) to intercept it. So the Colombian gang was going to kill the Trinidad gang and that is what the Government moved to avert. And that is what Sandy was alluding to, when he said that blood would flow," Rowley said.
But the Opposition Leader said the PNM does not believe this latest story.
He said the Opposition immediately recognised this story "for what it was—yet another attempt by the Government to find a justification for what they had done".
"Notwithstanding their brave danger, and their PR exercises, the Government is still trying to find an acceptable reason for the State of Emergency ... after refusing to tell us on the Parliament floor."
Charging that it was an attempt to mute the Opposition and prevent it for asking more questions, Rowley said by "trying to tell us this cock-and-bull story about Colombians and suitcases and blood would flow, we saw it as yet another attempt at justification and to prevent the Opposition from ploughing away at the question of what was the specific development that caused a State of Emergency to be declared in the 15th month of their term. So we don't believe it."
He said if there was any truth in the story the Government would have at least identified the gang or some part of the gang involved and the Government would have been in a position to tell the country who they picked up in connection with this so-called development. "We have heard no such thing ... If there was any truth in that story then the Government needs to tell the country that (openly). Don't just tell the Opposition quietly in our ears. There are those who are saying that I should not have told the country that because it is a secret. We don't want any secret from the Government on this matter," Rowley said.
He said the way the explanation evolved in the last two weeks, clearly this final story is not believable. He said Government first announced the State of Emergency as the option to treating with the crime situation, particularly as it relates to gangs and drugs. Then it came up with the story that a national crisis had been averted.
He said Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said it was a classified matter which involved foreign countries and would have had foreign implication. The PNM leader said however the statement did not square with remarks made by the Prime Minister last Wednesday when she said the State of Emergency was called to deal with the crime situation generally and there was no specific event which triggered it.
Then, Rowley said, Minister of National Security John Sandy said last Friday that a major crisis was averted which would have threatened national security and which would have led to such a blood bath that it would have made 1990 look at a Christmas party.
Rowley noted that 1990 saw the bombing of Police Headquarters, the killing of Police, the storming of Parliament, shooting of parliamentarians, the killing of one MP, and the taking of parliamentarians and Prime Minister hostage, shutting down the country and looting the city of Port of Spain. Hundreds of millions of dollars were lost in 1990. Yet, Rowley said, Sandy said this particular crisis would have been worse than that.
Rowley said he wanted to hear whether the Government would stand by this story and from Sandy's reaction yesterday (that he did not want to comment on it at this time), obviously they intend to stand by it. Rowley said Government has made a habit of not coming clean with the population—whether it be about the pension at 60 years, $2 million prize for a number of Carnival stakeholders, about Reshmi Ramnarine or the OPVs.
National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy yesterday declined comment on Rowley's statement.
When asked about Dr Rowley's claim at the National Security State of Emergency news briefing, Sandy said, "I did not hear the Opposition Leader, I don't know who told him that and I would rather not comment on that at this time."
PNM leader: Govt members whispered cock-and-bull story
By Ria Taitt Political Editor
Story Created: Sep 6, 2011 at 11:54 PM ECT
Story Updated: Sep 6, 2011 at 11:54 PM ECT http://www.trinidadexpress.com...rted_-129352588.html
Government spokesmen have told the Opposition PNM that the state of emergency was called because a Colombian drug gang wanted to kill members of a Trinidad and Tobago drug gang, following the $22 million drug bust at Piarco.
So stated Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley yesterday.
"When the debate was over and we were dispersing in the crowd and talking amongst our parliamentarian colleagues, government spokespersons came to the Opposition, whispering in our ears as good friends well-met, 'we can't tell the country but we could tell you that the real reason is this: that the cocaine that they pick up in the two suitcases in Piarco, belonged to a Colombian drug gang and Trinidad drug gang was supposed to guard it in Trinidad for it to be shipped out, and that (Trinidad) gang allowed the Government (the law enforcement authorities) to intercept it. So the Colombian gang was going to kill the Trinidad gang and that is what the Government moved to avert. And that is what Sandy was alluding to, when he said that blood would flow," Rowley said.
But the Opposition Leader said the PNM does not believe this latest story.
He said the Opposition immediately recognised this story "for what it was—yet another attempt by the Government to find a justification for what they had done".
"Notwithstanding their brave danger, and their PR exercises, the Government is still trying to find an acceptable reason for the State of Emergency ... after refusing to tell us on the Parliament floor."
Charging that it was an attempt to mute the Opposition and prevent it for asking more questions, Rowley said by "trying to tell us this cock-and-bull story about Colombians and suitcases and blood would flow, we saw it as yet another attempt at justification and to prevent the Opposition from ploughing away at the question of what was the specific development that caused a State of Emergency to be declared in the 15th month of their term. So we don't believe it."
He said if there was any truth in the story the Government would have at least identified the gang or some part of the gang involved and the Government would have been in a position to tell the country who they picked up in connection with this so-called development. "We have heard no such thing ... If there was any truth in that story then the Government needs to tell the country that (openly). Don't just tell the Opposition quietly in our ears. There are those who are saying that I should not have told the country that because it is a secret. We don't want any secret from the Government on this matter," Rowley said.
He said the way the explanation evolved in the last two weeks, clearly this final story is not believable. He said Government first announced the State of Emergency as the option to treating with the crime situation, particularly as it relates to gangs and drugs. Then it came up with the story that a national crisis had been averted.
He said Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said it was a classified matter which involved foreign countries and would have had foreign implication. The PNM leader said however the statement did not square with remarks made by the Prime Minister last Wednesday when she said the State of Emergency was called to deal with the crime situation generally and there was no specific event which triggered it.
Then, Rowley said, Minister of National Security John Sandy said last Friday that a major crisis was averted which would have threatened national security and which would have led to such a blood bath that it would have made 1990 look at a Christmas party.
Rowley noted that 1990 saw the bombing of Police Headquarters, the killing of Police, the storming of Parliament, shooting of parliamentarians, the killing of one MP, and the taking of parliamentarians and Prime Minister hostage, shutting down the country and looting the city of Port of Spain. Hundreds of millions of dollars were lost in 1990. Yet, Rowley said, Sandy said this particular crisis would have been worse than that.
Rowley said he wanted to hear whether the Government would stand by this story and from Sandy's reaction yesterday (that he did not want to comment on it at this time), obviously they intend to stand by it. Rowley said Government has made a habit of not coming clean with the population—whether it be about the pension at 60 years, $2 million prize for a number of Carnival stakeholders, about Reshmi Ramnarine or the OPVs.
National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy yesterday declined comment on Rowley's statement.
When asked about Dr Rowley's claim at the National Security State of Emergency news briefing, Sandy said, "I did not hear the Opposition Leader, I don't know who told him that and I would rather not comment on that at this time."