Ken Valley: Bombings an act of sabotage

Speaking with journalists following the opening of a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) conference at UWI’s School of Education in St Augustine yesterday, Valley said, "I think what the population is now seeing clearly that all of this is an attempt to sabotage the country. I think it has to be seen in that context."

He reiterated his confidence that National Security Minister Martin Joseph and the nation’s law enforcement agencies are doing all within their power to bring those responsible for the bombings to justice and bring the overall crime situation under control.

The minister said while it may be difficult for some citizens to feel reassured that the authorities are doing all that they can to ensure their safety and security, the worst thing that people could do is to surrender to fear and paranoia about who could be the person or persons behind the bombings. "The more you criticise in that environment, the more you are motivating those who want to destabilise. From where I sit, when citizens take this Government to task for these things they are really playing into the hands of the people who are trying to destabilise. That is what they want."

Valley declined to say if the Opposition UNC was acting irresponsibly by criticising Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s view that the Government knew the identity of Mr Big.

Manning had hinted that the authorities (with the help of the FBI and Scotland Yard) were currently gathering all the necessary evidence needed to bring Mr Big to justice.

Joseph said the police have received preliminary analyses from the FBI regarding the first three bombings, those analyses are being reviewed by the police for further action and the FBI will enhance the ability of local law enforcement agencies to deal with bombings and other terrorist acts.

Valley said contrary to concerns raised by Amcham president Nicholas Galt, there has been no decline in the flows of foreign investment into TT due to the bombings.

Valley also said he did not believe this would affect TT’s bid to become the site of the FTAA Secretariat.

He added that the security threat was much greater in cities in the United States. He also hinted that while BWIA cut some of its routes earlier this year, this could change due to plans which Government has to transform BWIA into a regional carrier.

Government approved US$250 million in the 2005/2006 Budget to assist in the airline’s recapitalisation and Cabinet last week appointed the new BWIA board of directors (chaired by businessman Arthur Lok Jack) to guide the airline’s transformation.