Mark blames Atwell for drugs at Baksh home

Opposition Senator Wade Mark said the man behind the planting of cocaine and mortar-shells in the water-tank of Sadiq Baksh was former minister of national security, Herbert Atwell. Mark gave the name on Tuesday night in the Senate in a motion on the adjournment of the house lamenting a lack of action to probe the incident. Referring to an alleged plot to kill Jamaat-al-Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr, Mark said: “He called the name of Herbert Atwell, former minister of national security. The same name is coming up with this cocaine. “Our information is that he is the main author of this event on July 17, 2002.”

The incident had been carried out in league with certain senior police officers, he added. Newsday tried unsuccessfully to contact Atwell for a comment. Mark urged Minister of National Security Martin Joseph to take action and invited the Commissioner of Police to seek help if needed from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and New Scotland Yard. Mark charged: “The PNM is conscious and aware of all parties involved.”  He listed those involved as “two former national security ministers now at Whitehall, two ambassadors, and two senior police officers in South Trinidad.” Earlier, Mark had said: “Some operatives are now in the Office of the Prime Minister as advisors and ambassadors placed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

Newsday called  Ambassador John Donaldson, who said of Mark: “Some people will do anything to keep their job.” Apparently challenging Mark to repeat the charges outside of Parliament and forego protection from defamation, Donaldson added: “Some people will only do it in Parliament.” In his speech, Mark said: “I want the Minister of Foreign Affairs to investigate your ambassador responsible for the Caribbean Single Market and Economy. He’s the person responsible. It’s a very, very dangerous situation.” Commenting on a previous news investigative story into the matter, Mark said a junior police officer had said certain police officers had conspired with a political  party to discredit Baksh. He deplored “the extent evil forces would go to to capture the marginal seat of San Fernando West.”

Mark declared: “It’s been two years now and nothing has been done... Minister of National Security why haven’t you taken action? Give the Commissioner of Police the names and ensure action is taken.” Responding in the Upper House, Minister of National Security, Martin Joseph, slammed Mark, saying: “Unfortunately we have had to sit down and listen to Senator Mark calling all kind of names under the cover of parliamentary privilege.” He said he was not in a position to respond to those names Mark had called. Joseph concluded: “Investigations by the Southern Division are ongoing as to how it got into Senator Baksh’s home, and who did it.”