Ken Gordon warned about kidnappers

INFORMATION coming to the attention of security forces of an alleged plot to kidnap and kill First Citizens Bank (FCB) chairman Ken Gordon has resulted in special arrangements for his safety, police sources said.

A senior police official confirmed with Newsday yesterday that the Special Branch of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), received information causing them to act. However, the senior police official said that they are paying attention to Gordon’s movements without his knowledge. “We are there, but not there,” the source said. The senior police official also told Newsday that the source of the information was not based on intelligence received by the Special Branch, and referred Newsday to FCB. Attempts, however, to reach FCB’s corporate communications manager, Dara Healy and its chief executive officer (CEO) Larry Howai, proved futile up to press time. Contacted yesterday, Gordon stated: “I have been told to be careful, and I am doing so.  We must all be very careful in this country.” Asked who told him to be careful and when, the businessman said: “By the official security people, more recently, over the past week.” 

Gordon, a former Minister with the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), and head of the Caribbean Communications Network (CCN), also said he was not aware that the police were keeping an eye on him. “If they were watching me, they were doing so very carefully,” he said. Police sources in the Eastern Division also told Newsday that they acted on information received last week and were asked to monitor Gordon’s movements when he went to his Mayaro beach house late July. Police sources said Gordon stayed at that location for a brief period, and was seen walking “normally” on the beach. There have been reports that a number of businessmen and their family members are on an underworld list of about 25 people to be kidnapped and possibly killed. One of them was recently identified as Deputy Chief Magistrate Deborah Thomas-Felix, who quoted this as one of her reasons for protesting her transfer to the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court from the Port-of-Spain Court. Newsday was also told that the names of a firearm and ammunition businessman as well as a well-known insurance man, are on the list of 25.