Authorities uncover plot to kill PM

PORT-OF-SPAIN (CMC):

National Security adviser Gary Griffith yesterday confirmed that law-enforcement authorities have uncovered a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and three senior government ministers.

Media reports said that apart from Persad-Bissessar, the alleged plot also involved the assassination of Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and Foreign Affairs and Information Minister Suruj Rambachan.

Griffith confirmed that security had been beefed up around the ministers.

Unconfirmed reports yesterday said at least 10 people had been detained by police for questioning.

Soon to be revealed

Griffiths told viewers that the authorities uncovered the plot "based on a confirmed threat to the nation's security.

"I would not want to say more at this time, it will be revealed in due course. I think it is the right of citizens to know the security of the state but for obvious reasons there are times it could be revealed.

"I think the time has come and I think we can refer to Mr Sandy's statement a few months ago when he was criticised when he said 1990 would have looked like a tea party. So I think it will all come to light."

Sandy had defended the coalition People's Partnership government's decision to impose a state of emergency (SOE) on the island since August 21.

Sandy told legislators that the government had no choice but to impose the SOE and the accompanying five-hour curfew, which has since been lifted, because the authorities had to act to prevent a 'bloodbath' that would have made 1990 a 'Christmas tea party'.

In 1990, members of the radical Jamaat Al Muslimeen group staged an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the then government of Prime Minister ANR Robinson.

At least 24 people, including one legislator, Leo Des Vignes, were killed during the six-day insurrection that ended on August 1.

Griffith told television viewers that while Sandy would be the person giving "more information pertaining to what has happened, what I can say is that whatever plan was afoot, the law-enforcement agencies are in full control of the situation, and again this is based on individuals who wanted the state of emergency to be seen as a dismal failure, and because of their concerns that the state of emergency had affected them".