Politics
Trinidad & Tobago: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar hands in computer equipment to police
Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. PHOTO/File
Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has handed over computer equipment to the police as investigations continue into allegations that she and senior members of her government were involved in a plot to undermine the judiciary, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution and the media.
During a two hour meeting with the police on Tuesday, prime minister Persad-Bissessar, accompanied by her lawyer, said it would be inappropriate to comment on the investigations.
“We had a very fruitful discussion. As you know, this matter is an ongoing police investigation and, therefore, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on it,” she added.
Last month, opposition Leader Keith Rowley presented 31 emails to Parliament during a debate on a motion of no confidence against the government. The emails purport to show that members of the government, including prime minister Persad-Bissessar, were engaged in efforts to undermine the judiciary, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution and the media.
The administration has denied the allegation and earlier this month, Senior Counsel, Israel Khan, the attorney for the prime minister, made available to reporters an independent foreign forensic expert, John Berryhill, who said that the documents were faked.
Meanwhile, media reports Wednesday said that attorneys for Attorney General and Local Government and Works Minister, have not handed over the electronic equipment of those ministers despite meeting with the police.
“We went to the police headquarters with the mobile devices and the computers of the two cabinet members. We had lengthy discussions concerning the handover of equipment, however, the police were unable to satisfy us as to the protocol that would be adopted once the equipment was left in their custody,” attorney Larry Lalla, one of two attorneys told reporters.
Lalla told reporters that they would continue communicating with Deputy Commissioner of Police Mervyn Richardson, who is leading the probe, with a view to handing over the relevant equipment by the end of the week, “once they address the protocol concerns”. -(CMC)