No cover-up. That’s the assurance from acting Prime Minister Colm Imbert to the family of deceased Carenage fisherman, Brian Smith, whose death is currently under probe by various authorities, including the T&T Regiment.
Speaking at yesterday’s weekly Government media conference, Imbert, who is acting in the absence of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, said he had asked National Security Minister Edmund Dillon to ensure that a high-ranking Regiment official visit Smith’s family and assure them that there would be an independent, impartial investigation of Smith’s death.
The 30-year-old fishermen’s death sparked protests in Carenage earlier this week, following conflicting claims about his death by family members.
Smith, from Penal Rock Road, Moruga, was visiting his mother in the community when he reportedly got into an argument with soldiers he was allegedly “liming” with last Friday.
Smith’s body was later found at sea. Relatives allege Smith was beaten unconscious and drowned by the soldiers. The Regiment has denied any wrongdoing on the part of the officers.
A government autopsy showed he drowned. However, a second autopsy, reportedly commissioned by relatives, found he had trauma to the head and face which may have contributed to his drowning.
However, the family yesterday said they were still awaiting a further test to determine whether he drowned.
Commenting on the matter yesterday, acting PM Imbert said: “I want to assure the family (of Smith) that the Minister of National Security (Edmund Dillon) has been instructed to take this matter very seriously, ensure it is done properly and in accordance with procedure and there is no cover-up and there will be an independent, impartial probe of the matter.”
Imbert said he had also asked Dillon to see if a copy of the second autopsy could be obtained to assist Regiment enquiries and that the police should also make efforts to get a copy.
But for the sake of the family, he said: “I think they need to be assured there will be no cover-up and there will be an independent, impartial enquiry.”
Imbert said he did not know if anyone had seen the second report.
“I can’t say who did it, under what circumstances it was done, how credible it is. I don’t want to make a comment at this point in time, especially in view of the source. I wouldn’t want to create any emotion where it is not required at this point in time.”
Contacted subsequently, Dillon told the T&T Guardian the Chief of Defence Staff was sending a senior Regiment officer to interface with Smith’s family on the issue and to ensure the Regiment did its own internal probe on the matter.
Dillon said the Regiment had tried to interface with Smith’s relatives before but was unsuccessful and was making a second attempt to meet with the family and assure them of efforts being made on the issue.
On another matter, Imbert said he expected whatever recommendation the Police Complaints Authority had made in the issue of the former head of Special Branch and an alleged “cover-up” in the matter regarding a ganja find at the private home of the former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, would be taken seriously and the appropriate action would be taken.
The PCA has recommended the former Special Branch head, retired Snr Supt Gary Gould, be charged for his role in the alleged “cover-up” of the discovery in 2013 of a quantity of marijuana in a gazebo on the grounds of Persad-Bissessar’s Palmiste, San Fernando, residence.