Senior Political Reporter
National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds claims he is unaware of the existence of a Research and Analytical Unit (RAU) within the T&T Police Service (TTPS) equipped with specific tools for monitoring and listening in on private conversations.
Hinds was responding to queries by UNC Senator Jayanti Lutchmedial-Ramdial in the Senate yesterday.
She had asked him if he could corroborate a T&T Guardian report yesterday which claimed a specialised intelligence gathering unit under the TTPS Special Branch was capable of intercepting private communications.
Hinds said under the Interception of Communication Act, there are three offices/entities that are permitted under the law to do interceptions for that act: the TTPS’ Commissioner of Police, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Strategic Services Agency (SSA).
Lutchmedial-Ramdial inquired more about the RAU and whether it was equipped with specialised surveillance equipment, such as CCTV cameras and tools for listening in on private conversations.
Hinds said, “I’m not aware of that.”
He said the law of T&T–Interception of Communications Act–allows for and prescribes the circumstances that will permit the CoP, CDF and SSA to intercept communications, “... like all other countries that possess it for the purposes of attacking, solving, and preventing crime”.
He added, “In respect of the unit, the CoP delegates her authority quite lawfully and constitutionally to officers of the TTPS, and whoever the CoP delegates her authority to lawfully conduct the TTPS work is a matter for the CoP.”
Lutchmedial-Ramdial questioned whether information that resulted in the termination of SSA employees and SSA director Roger Best being sent on leave came from the RAU.
Hinds said, “As I indicated earlier, the law governs the activity that the honourable senator is referring to, and there’s nothing useful else I can add.”
UNC Senator Wade Mark asked if the RAU reports directly to the minister on its surveillance and interception activities.
Hinds added, “I’m not aware of any unit of the police service reporting directly to me. The TTPS Commissioner details officers for work, and all her officers report to her, the CoP. Any reports in the context of the relationship between the executive, Cabinet, and TTPS are conducted through the office of the CoP.”