Mark: Govt spying on us

Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, Wade Mark, yesterday accused the Government of high-tech spying on the Opposition, just one charge he levelled in the Senate during a stormy debate on the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003.

Mark said: "It has been brought to my attention that the present regime has embarked on a programme of electronic spying, and the Opposition is its first target. If you have a cell-phone it is the most dangerous device to walk with under the PNM." At that Government Senator Danny Montano interjected to complain: "He has said we stole an election, and now he's using the time to say all kinds of things."  President of the Senate Dr Linda Baboolal told Mark to stick to the bill under debate, warning: "It is not right for you to make those kinds of accusations unless you have evidence."

Mark continued: "The PNM used $61 million of yours and mine, taxpayers’ dollars to buy an automated monitoring system, and you know that Madam President. Capable of analysing voice-data, fax-calls, e-mails...Madam President they have done that." Again Danny Montano interjected to complain about Mark. President Baboolal sternly ruled: "I specifically asked you to stop making reference to what you have no proof about and to come back to the amendment. Please don't let me have to talk to you again." At that another UNC senator suddenly stood to declare: "I have evidence my telephone is bugged," drawing looks of uncertain bemusement from those present. Mark stood his ground, asserting: "I have proof of what I'm speaking about. I will produce the evidence."

He claimed the Government had destroyed sensitive documents which could have been sought out under the Act, alleging: "I'd like Dr Saith to tell us what steps his Ministry is taking to ensure the records of the State are not tampered with? I have brought to your attention how documents within the State apparatus are being wilfully and maliciously destroyed by agents of the State. I'd like to now what Dr Saith is doing about that. When you call for information, you may have personnel who may be innocently directed to have those documents destroyed or damaged, so the population may not have access to that information. I'd like the Minister to say what attempts are being undertaken by his ministry to ensure public documents are preserved from destruction.  We have information of State documents being wilfully tampered with by agents of the State. That's an area that will ultimately harm public access to information within the State apparatus."   

Mark underlined the importance of the parent Act by stating that it had been used by the Opposition to expose alleged corruption at WASA, resulting in Prime Minister Patrick Manning recently vowing to employ forensic investigator Bob Lindquist to inquire.  Mark said: "One of the objectives of this Act is to expose corruption in the PNM." Danny Montano yet again interjected: "Nobody on this side has been charged or convicted of any crime." Mark asked Saith to give concrete details as to how he was setting up the automation of access to the Freedom of Information programme.  Despite having begun his contribution by praising the work of the former UNC regime in passing the Freedom of Information Act 1999 amidst the then Opposition PNM calling it "diabolical subterfuge filled with trickery, deceit and deception", Mark ended his speech by declaring that the Opposition reserved its rights on how to vote on the amendment, in light of the impasse over Caroni (1975) Limited.