‘Venezuela Five’ still held despite new order

Just why the men are yet to leave Caracas despite the October 15 Order by Justice Maria Eugenia Nunez, is becoming a national disgrace, said spokesman for the men’s families, Umar Abdullah.

Attorney Nafessa Mohammed described the failure of the Caracas authorities to free the men as “cause for great concern”.

She confirmed that on Friday, another Order was issued for the men to be freed. The men, Dominic Pitital, Asim Luqman, Wade Charles, Andre Battersby and Leslie Daisley,were arrested since March 19, 2014. They have been held at the Servicio Bolivariano de Inteligencia Nacional (SE BIN) jail - known as a jail for political dissidents.

It is still not known if and what were the charges laid relating to treason, having regard to their arrest at a hotel in Caracas. The Venezuelan policia had allegedly seized their passports, United States dollars and certain electronic devices.

Three Imams who had gone to Caracas to obtain visas on behalf of Trinidadian muslims who wanted to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform “Umrah”, were also arrested.

However, following a team appointed by the cabinet in 2014 to travel to Caracas headed by Admiral Richard Kelshall on a fact finding mission, the Imams were freed.