During the July 1990 uprising the Coast Guard set up roadblocks to defend its base at Hart's Cut Bay from rogue elements in the army. "It was the single factor that guided the strategy," then commanding officer of the Coast Guard Richard Kelshall told the commission of enquiry into the attempted coup at the Caribbean Court of Justice, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. Kelshall, one of an array of law enforcement personnel giving evidence in this session, said there were rumours the army was supporting the Jamaat al Muslimeen insurgents, led by Imam Yasin Abu Bakr. He said: "When I heard the army was with Bakr I took preventative action. "I was influenced by 1970," he added, recalling his experience when the army, led by Raffique Shah, staged a mutiny in 1970.
Hart's Cut Bay was not attacked by any rogue elements in the army in 1990. Despite criticisms from several witnesses, including Capt Gary Griffith, that the army blundered, Kelshall emphasised, however, how well soldiers performed in quelling the insurrection. Asked by commissioner Eastlyn McKenzie how he rated the army's performance, Kelshall said: "They won the match. "In a football game who makes the most goals wins the match. They won," he said, generally dismissing operational blunders. Kelshall further disclosed if he had to choose a hero of the attempted takeover crisis, it would be Joseph Theodore, Chief of Defence Staff at the time. He said: "If I had to pin a hero, it would be Joe Theodore... to handle such a terrible situation and to carry out the negotiations, which were excellently done...
"Did we win? The situation came out right in the end. How we got there is not important. The country owes a terrible debt of gratitude to the regiment." Kelshall heaped more praises on the soliders whom he said displayed incredible "fire discipline" during the hostage crisis. He said: "There were soldiers with live ammunition all over Port-of-Spain. The order went out to hold their fire (when the Muslimeen were surrendering) and they did. It was incredible fire discipline. All it would have taken was one hothead (to mess things up). "The world and I felt the T&T Regiment performed immaculately at the time."
Kelshall, highlighting some of the confusion in the army shortly after the announcement of the attempted overthrow of the Government said he was actually fired upon when he first went to Camp Ogden, the army's command centre. He said he went to Camp Ogden around 7.30 am on July 28, one day after the uprising. Kelshall said one of the Coast Guard's role was to support the army. He added: "I had gone through the fear and desperation the night before and arrived there with a clear mind. "When I got there, there was a large quantity of soldiers milling around and to my great surprise I came under fire."