In talks: Imtiaz Mohammed, centre, president of the Islamic Missionaries Guild of the Caribbean and South America, speaks yesterday to the relatives of the Muslims who are detained in Venezuela at the Islamic Centre in Kelly Village, Caroni. From left, Kamil Khan, Karamat Mohammed, Ashard Hamid, Fareeda Khan, Edan Hamid and Rablun Mohammed. —Photo: ISHMAEL SALANDY
Islamic Missionaries: Hold off on action
By Mark Bassant CCN Senior Multimedia Investigative Journalist
Griffith: We did help
Minister of National Security Gary Griffith said there was an “unfortunate perception painted that this country was not helping in the process” of trying to secure the release of the imprisoned imams and the others in Venezuela. Griffith, who is in Bahamas, in a telephone interview sent to CCN conducted by the Government Information Services Ltd (GISL), said it was because of this country’s delegation that visited Venezuela soon after the arrest of all the Trinidadians that they were able to secure the release of the women and children. “Because of our proactivity, we were able to secure the release of eight women and six children that were held in Venezuela, and additionally we continue to work to secure the possible release of the three imams, so it is unfortunate a statement like this could be made that we have not done as much as we should.”