Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro says he remains confident in the Defence Force’s ability to secure high-risk prisoners at its Chaguaramas bases, despite recent security breaches.
The Commissioner’s comments follow reports that inmates at the Staubles Bay and Teteron bases possessed cell phones and had drones spying for them.
The prisoners, whom Guevarro described as being part of a “crime syndicate” working with outside partners to murder state officials, were moved from the Maximum Security Prison on July 18, the start of the State of Emergency.
This action was a direct result of Guevarro advising the Cabinet to declare the SoE to disrupt this criminal connection.
Two weeks after the move, Attorney General John Jeremie told Parliamentarians that two drones, presumably assisting the inmates, were intercepted by Defence Force personnel.
A subsequent detention order against murder accused Rajaee Ali and prison supervisor Garth Guada, further alleged their collaboration to secure prohibited items at both the prison and the Defence Force compound.
Addressing the security breaches, Commissioner Guevarro stated: “Not every breach climbs a fence or comes through a secure door. Some arrive cloaked in silence... whether it’s a hole in a perimeter fence or a hole in accountability, both demand swift closure.”
He insisted that the security incidents did not shake his confidence in the Defence Force’s custodial mandate.
“My confidence in all arms of law enforcement remains resolute. The Defence Force operating under the authority of and empowered by the requisite legal notice continues to fulfil its custodial mandate.”
In a veiled jab at former police commissioner Gary Griffith, Guevarro defended the relocation as a “strategic recalibration,” and not a “retreat.”
He urged the public and media to rely on information from those with “direct knowledge” and “current intelligence data,” likening outside commentary to “taking baskets from persons on the outside looking in.”
Griffith had previously criticised the relocation of the prisoners as “a clear indication of surrender,” arguing it was a “slap in the face to the prison service.” He claimed to have had similar information during his tenure but did not “hit the panic button.” Griffith also said a three-tiered security system he had implemented was dismantled after he left office, leading to the formation of the crime syndicate.
In response, Guevarro noted that the emergency powers regulations have been amended, and the national security machinery will continue to adapt to specific situations as they arise.
