Security arrangements around Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar have been “beefed up” after police intercepted information, which has since been discredited, of imminent attacks against her, says Communications Minister Vasant Bharath.
The new arrangements were implemented less than 24 hours after a confidential memo from the head of the Special Branch was leaked to the public on Wednesday, threatening national security and warning of imminent attacks against Prime Minister.
During a telephone interview yesterday, however, Bharath declined to provide specific details of the new arrangements.
“I believe security measures regarding the Prime Minister have been beefed up,” he said.
Among the immediate changes that went into effect on Wednesday was that her security detail, which is provided by Special Branch, was rotated every 30 to 45 minutes; there was limited access to her private residence at Philippine by ministers, officers and campaign staff; the issuance of designated emergency evacuation routes in and around the residence to all drivers; and detailed searches of people entering the private residence were started.
Bharath said he could not say if security for other Cabinet ministers had been increased “as the memo didn’t indicate that Cabinet ministers were under threat.” However, he stressed that the law enforcement agencies remained on high alert and prepared for any eventuality.
The T&T Guardian understands that a security detail is provided for both the PM and Attorney General, while other Cabinet ministers were free to request such.
Expressing initial concerns over the authenticity of the memo, which was dated July 28 and directed to all field station heads, Bharath said it was “not unusual for a memo to be posted on a notice board and that anyone could have sight of it.” He said this was “normally how these memos are circulated.”
“In light of the leak, such measures may need to be reviewed,” he said.
On Thursday, acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams stressed that there was no support to the rumours contained in the leaked document. But he launched an investigation into how the confidential memo made its way into the public domain. The investigator has until Monday to hand in his report.
Numerous attempts to contact both Williams and National Security Minister Carl Alfonso were unsuccessful yesterday, as calls to their cellphones went unanswered. Security agencies across the country remained on high alert yesterday, with barricades still set up in front some police stations.
Reports indicate that parts of Patna and Agra Streets, St James - the location of the Special Branch headquarters - remained cordoned off to vehicular traffic and that there absolutely no parking being allowed within one block of the office.
In the leaked memo, which sought verification of rumours that co-ordinated attacks were being planned by the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen to free the 11 people charged with the murder of Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal and those similarly accused in the ongoing Vindra Naipaul-Coolman trial—the Special Branch appealed for “findings instantly.” (See page A14)
The memo began circulating two days after 11 men appeared in court charged with Seetahal's murder and being members of a gang. It also followed a daring daylight jailbreak on July 24, by three prisoners, Allan “Scanny” Martin, Hassan Atwell and Christopher Selby from the Port-of-Spain Prison and came one day after the 25th anniversary of the 1990 attempted coup.