T&T AG apologises to Barbados police

Trinidad and Tobago’s Attorney General Reginald Armour has apologised to Barbados police for the negative light cast on the assistance they gave to lawmen in the twin-island republic in apprehending a wanted firearms dealer.

In a statement to Parliament on Wednesday, he said that while the manner in which Brent Thomas was returned was unlawful, the Barbadian officers had only been trying to help their Trinidadian counterparts.

Armour’s apology came a day after Attorney General Dale Marshall said that while police had fallen short, they had rendered the requested assistance to their T&T colleagues “without any mental element of criminality that would be associated with an abduction”.

“I offer to the government and the . . . Barbados Police Force, my apologies for the slur which has been cast on the action of the . .. Barbados Police Service who, consistent with the law and their oaths of office, were assisting the T&T Police Service (TTPS) to the best of their ability in the investigation of alleged crimes, in seeking to bring an alleged fugitive to justice,” Armour said.

He also disclosed that while Trinidad’s Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions George Busby had advised TTPS officers involved to communicate the existence of warrants to Barbados authorities, no advice was given as to how the rest was to be done in Barbados or how, if arrested, Thomas was to be returned.

In his ruling on a constitutional review motion filed by Thomas last month, Justice Devindra Rampersad accused Barbados police of “abducting” the 61-year-old businessman from his hotel on October 5 last year and handing him over to Trinidad and Tobago police who came here for him.

Thomas was taken back to Trinidad to face charges of illegal possession of weapons, including grenades and rifles but the judge stayed the charges, contending that the Trinidadian’s constitutional rights were seriously breached. The T&T government has since appealed that decision.

Justice Rampersad’s characterisation of the Barbados police’s involvement as an abduction had been rejected by Marshall.

“From the reports that I have received, I am satisfied that the actions of the Barbados Police Service have fallen short of applicable legal norms, such as acting under an extradition request. I, however, cannot associate myself with the description of the actions of the Barbados Police officers as an abduction or as has been elsewhere been described as a kidnapping,” the AG said.

“It is evident . . . that the Barbados Police Service sought to assist a sister Police service in a matter which appeared to them to be of a grave and important nature, and especially so, given the scourge of firearm violence that is a feature in Barbados and across the Caribbean.”

Addressing Justice Rampersad’s use of the word “abduction” in his ruling, Armour said there was no evidence that the TTPS acted with criminal intent in pursuing Thomas to Barbados and bringing him back to Trinidad.

“There can be no criminal offence of abduction, involving criminal intent, unless such criminal intent was shown, beyond reasonable doubt to have been present in the minds of the officers of the TT Police Service,” he said.

Attorneys for Thomas have indicated they intend to file legal action against the Barbados Police Service. (BT/CMC) ]]>