Former T&T minister speaks on illegal wiretapping

Former national security minister of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), Martin Joseph, has distanced himself from the illegal wiretapping carried out by the Strategic Intelligence Agency while he was in office.



President George Maxwell Richards was reportedly among a list of prominent people, including politicians, trade unionists, journalists and sports personalities whose phones had been illegally tapped by the agency.



In a statement yesterday, Joseph said he never authorised the wire tapping of any citizen of Trinidad and Tobago.



Joseph said he too is shocked by the revelations and he is looking forward to clarification on the matter.



According to Joseph, he did not have any power over the director of the agency.



He said as minister, his responsibility was for policy formulation and implementation and the coordination among the various divisions of the ministry.