This country is on top of the situation involving the nine T&T nationals who were arrested in Turkey en route to Syria to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis), says head of the National Security Council Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.
Commenting on the matter, in his first public appearance after returning from vacation, Rowley said, “Our missions abroad and Ministry of Foreign Affairs are very much in touch.”
He was speaking at Thursday’s post-Cabinet press conference, at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair.
Rowley said the Government was doing everything it could about Isis and was aware that citizens were being induced to join the terrorist organisation.
Regarding the detainees who were held at the end of July, Rowley said not much could be done without information from abroad.
“We have a significant amount of population that are Muslim who are open to inducement to go abroad and do that...and worse to be encouraged to commit atrocities at home. This is the world we live in 2016.”
He said the National Security Council was very aware of these situations.
“Rest assured, we, in association with our larger partners in national security, are doing what we can to minimise our exposure and be alert to the threat that you mentioned.”
He said Cabinet approved on Thursday the purchase of certain equipment for the security services to strengthen our electronic response, while our borders need to be secured.
Rowley also told trade union leaders who have ramped up protest action in the last few weeks for outstanding back pay to workers, “they cannot get more from less. Now we have far less money to discharge those debts.”
The PM said citizens were hitting the streets with placards because of pent-up aggravation over monies owed from an earlier time.
“Our obligation is to preserve jobs.”