No probe into coup

He made these disclosures as he addressed a wreath laying ceremony at the Red House to mark the 15th anniversary of the coup.

Saying 15 years was a very long time and that people’s memories may be hazy, he said, "We are not convinced a commission of inquiry is the way to proceed at this time." He did not think an inquiry would serve any useful purpose. Manning assured that the Government is determined that such events do not recur.

The Government, he said, has its views on the circumstances of the coup and the breaches in security accompanying the event.

His Government has taken steps to strengthen the nation’s security, he said, explaining why his own personal security detail had recently been heightened. "We are not unaware of a threat to the Prime Minister’s life at this time."

Saying that democracy underpins governance in Trinidad and Tobago, he said the Government would be vigilant against a repeat of the 1990 coup. He said dependants of the persons killed in the coup had been looked after by successive governments. The coup, he said, was one of the saddest episodes in the history of Trinidad and Tobago.

President George Maxwell Richards saluted the heroes of the coup. The commitment of the protective services, he recalled, had saved us from a different outcome.

During the events of 1990, he assured, there had been true leadership.

"There was leadership at Television House and there was leadership in the Parliament, as there was elsewhere in the country."

Richards hailed then prime minister Arthur NR Robinson saying his words "attack with full force" shouted to the defence force while he was held hostage, would be judged by history.

One bright spot in the episode, he said, was the fact that during the events of 1990, "we took care of our business as a sovereign nation." He damned the coup as a dastardly attempt by misguided miscreants who tried to tell us how to govern the country.

But while the event sullied the pages of our history, Richards said, it had lessons for us. "Let us resolve that history must not repeat itself in that regard and let us be equally conscious that the price of security is eternal vigilance."

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Barry Sinanan, said the coup was a bold and reckless attack on our basic civil values and our freedom. "Innocent citizens were murdered. Whatever the cause, whatever the political belief such action can never be justified." He hailed the families of victims for bearing their sorrow with immense dignity. Yesterday’s ceremony showed our commitment to democracy.

Sinanan urged all to be united to show we believe in democracy and tolerance.

NAR chairman Rawle Raphael earlier called for an inquiry into the coup, saying the Jamaat al Muslimeen had not appeared overnight.

Anglican Bishop Calvin Bess in his sermon said the coup had hurt Trinidad and Tobago, which now could only be healed by the repentance of the perpetrators. "Those who brought those pains must face them and the suffering they caused. The wrongdoers must repent for 1990, and now change their direction from destruction, pain and suffering. Only then could Trinidad and Tobago become the nation that God intended us to be."

Bess said we cannot let the events of 1990 fade from our collective consciousness.

Inter Religious Organisation (IRO) president Rev Cyril Paul said families of the coup victims still suffer pain and trauma.

Speaking to Newsday, Jones P Madeira, who broadcast at TTT under the gun in 1990 said an annual commemoration of 1990 was insufficient, and he hopes the country has learnt lessons from the event after 15 years.