Shocked, surprised and stunned.
That’s how neighbours of Malabar Pastor Ian Albert Ezekiel Brown described his confession of being a spy for the country’s main intelligence gathering agency the Strategic Services Agency (SSA).
Yesterday, while Brown’s neighbours were amazed by his spy link to the SSA, he told Guardian Media during a brief telephone interview that he was Israeli-trained and the owner of 11 SIM cards and seven phones.
He, however, declined a face-to-face interview.
On Saturday, police raided Brown’s Arima home at Aleon Street and his churches—Jerusalem Bride (JB Church) in Malabar, Arima, and the Eden Restored Church in Caratal.
Hours after the raid, Brown, 67, said he was known as “The Phantom” and “the ghost” who walks in the SSA.
As a Special Reserve Police Officer Brown said, he used a rental car paid for by national security to do his “spy work”.
He claimed he was brought in to weed out crooks in the SSA.
On May 25, 2023, Brown claimed, he came on the SSA payroll as a service provider. He claimed that he also used a wig to disguise his appearance.
His task was to deal with corruption as it relates to SSA and even sat in high-level national security meetings and had access to sensitive information.
Brown also admitted that members of his church were employed in the SSA, among them his son.
His confession came days after SSA director Major Roger Best, who Brown said was one of nine elders in the church, was sent on administrative leave.
It was claimed that Best was sent on leave over questionable recruitment of specific individuals within the SSA.
During a visit to Brown’s community, many of his neighbours, except for two men, described the pastor as a good man.
They also spoke about Brown’s brother Terry Brown of Nelson Street, Arima, being gunned down two years ago in Arima.
They could not say what led to Brown’s killing, stating that as far as they knew no one was arrested for the murder.
A ‘respectable gentleman’
People’s National Movement Arima Central councillor Sheldon “Fish” Garcia who lives behind Brown, had only good things to say about the man of the cloth.
“He is a very respectable gentleman in the neighbourhood. Brown grew up in a church life and I don’t know him of doing any wrong. He never found himself on the wrong side of the law,” Garcia said.
Daryl Wilson, who operates his Wilson Auto Tech business opposite Brown’s home, said all his life, “I know Mr Brown and he’s a good man.”
Asked how he felt about Brown being a spy, Wilson said that left him stunned.
“That one shocked me because we knew him as a pastor. I am not against anyone doing what they have to, but I was a bit taken aback. I was lost for words. I never saw him as a bad person,” he said.
Wilson said Brown provided counselling services to his flock and members of his community.
“I am not sure if he went into the SSA as a counsellor and things went a little bit different.”
Wilson remembered seeing Brown wearing his “wig” many times to disguise himself.
This was done in the presence of members of his flock at his home.
“We have seen him with the wig in his hand with the other church members liming and talking.”
When GML approached Brown’s home, his gate was locked just like the doors to his Malabar church.
A man standing on the verandah of a small house situated in the same compound of Brown’s towering property identified himself only as his elder brother.
He could not say if Brown was at home and insisted he could not come outside to check if he was home because of some pit bulls roaming the yard.
Asked what he thought about his brother’s involvement in SSA, he replied “I only have thoughts a brother would have for a brother which is love. I read the story like everybody else.”
A stone’s throw away from Brown’s home, a shopkeeper who requested anonymity stated that he was “surprised” like the rest of the community to find out that Brown had been a spy.
“What?...I was shocked!”
However, the shopkeeper said he had known Brown all his life and held him in high esteem and regard.
Resident Vaughn Edwards claimed he was attacked by Brown’s pit bulls in January which he failed to address or speak to him about.
Edwards said if he had not jumped on a van, he would have been mauled to death.
“Since the dog attacked me I never see none of them,” Edwards insisted.
A Guardian Media team also travelled to Brown’s Eden Restored Church in Caratal, but we could not get close to the place of worship as a chain was draped across the unpaved road stopping us in our tracks.
