debut: 2/16/17 9:58 AM
41,062 runs
Spotlight turns on Roger: Detained prison officer accuses minister of clandestine meetings with gangsters
Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander has been accused of meeting incarcerated alleged gang members shortly before he left the T&T Police Service (TTPS) to pursue a career in politics.Prison supervisor Garth Guada, who is currently being detained for allegedly providing assistance to a gang under the ongoing State of Emergency (SoE), based on a detention order issued by Alexander, made the allegation through his lawyer, Krystal Primus, in a pre-action protocol letter sent to Alexander this week.In the correspondence, which was obtained by Guardian Media, Primus claimed that her client’s detention was based on a personal vendetta Alexander had against him (Guada), after he (Guada) reported Alexander’s alleged clandestine meetings to senior prison and police officers.
Primus said: “It is my client’s position that your decision was influenced by an improper motive and a clear conflict of interest due to a pre-existing relationship and personal animosity between you and my client, stemming from your recent visits to the Maximum Security Prison and information that was communicated to the TTPS Intelligence Unit about your affairs.”While Primus did not identify the dates of the alleged meetings sought by Alexander, she claimed the requests were first made when Alexander, who was last assigned to the Anti-Extortion Unit, was on vacation leave earlier this year.Primus claimed that while Guada refused to facilitate unsupervised visits with a member of the Radical Islamic Criminal Gang, he did allow Alexander to speak to a member in his presence and reported what transpired to senior prison officers.
She claimed the meeting requests continued after Alexander was elected Tunapuna MP in the April 28 General Election and subsequently appointed to the Cabinet by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.“On each occasion, communication was sent by my client to the executive of the T&T Prison Service and the DCP Intelligence of the TTPS, Ms Suzette Martin, as it was my client’s responsibility to do so.”She claimed that Guada worked closely with the TTPS in the past and had provided information on gang-related activity in the prison.Guada claimed that he had been threatened by criminal elements in the past and his home was targeted in a shooting as a result of his role as a senior prison officer.Primus requested an urgent response as she threatened to file a lawsuit against Alexander.
Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander has been accused of meeting incarcerated alleged gang members shortly before he left the T&T Police Service (TTPS) to pursue a career in politics.Prison supervisor Garth Guada, who is currently being detained for allegedly providing assistance to a gang under the ongoing State of Emergency (SoE), based on a detention order issued by Alexander, made the allegation through his lawyer, Krystal Primus, in a pre-action protocol letter sent to Alexander this week.In the correspondence, which was obtained by Guardian Media, Primus claimed that her client’s detention was based on a personal vendetta Alexander had against him (Guada), after he (Guada) reported Alexander’s alleged clandestine meetings to senior prison and police officers.
Primus said: “It is my client’s position that your decision was influenced by an improper motive and a clear conflict of interest due to a pre-existing relationship and personal animosity between you and my client, stemming from your recent visits to the Maximum Security Prison and information that was communicated to the TTPS Intelligence Unit about your affairs.”While Primus did not identify the dates of the alleged meetings sought by Alexander, she claimed the requests were first made when Alexander, who was last assigned to the Anti-Extortion Unit, was on vacation leave earlier this year.Primus claimed that while Guada refused to facilitate unsupervised visits with a member of the Radical Islamic Criminal Gang, he did allow Alexander to speak to a member in his presence and reported what transpired to senior prison officers.
She claimed the meeting requests continued after Alexander was elected Tunapuna MP in the April 28 General Election and subsequently appointed to the Cabinet by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.“On each occasion, communication was sent by my client to the executive of the T&T Prison Service and the DCP Intelligence of the TTPS, Ms Suzette Martin, as it was my client’s responsibility to do so.”She claimed that Guada worked closely with the TTPS in the past and had provided information on gang-related activity in the prison.Guada claimed that he had been threatened by criminal elements in the past and his home was targeted in a shooting as a result of his role as a senior prison officer.Primus requested an urgent response as she threatened to file a lawsuit against Alexander.
