Sat, Devant sues Manning

Maha Sabha secretary general Satnarayan Maharaj and executive member Devant Maharaj, in a statement yesterday, signalled their intention to take legal action after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar disclosed in Parliament on Friday last, that the names of the two were on an extensive list of persons whose telephones were illegally wire-tapped by unit known as the Security Intelligence Agency (SIA).

The SIA reported to the former prime minister and the former security minister, Persad-Bissessar revealed. Both men will be sued personally, the two Maha Sabha executives said yesterday.

The statement issued by the SDMS president general indicated that the central executive and other arms of the body were shocked and amazed at the revelation made by the Prime Minister on Friday last.

He said these groups — which include the Pundits Parishad, the Youth Arm and Women’s Arm, among others — are said to be concerned about the implications of the two men being spied upon.

“During the PNM Government, the Maha Sabha, Satnarayan Maharaj and Devant Maharaj had various legal actions before the courts against the State,” the statement said.

Maharaj said their attorney, now Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, was also spied on and said the implication for this “regarding the independence of the judiciary” has caused the Maha Sabha and its officers to reflect on whether their legal actions against the State were in any form compromised, the statement said.

Maharaj said they have also written to Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard. The men are expected to say more about their lawsuit at a press conference today at the SDMS’ headquarters in St Augustine.