Veil of silence after Security Meeting

The PM met with President George Maxwell Richards at President’s House yesterday morning. However, no details were given as to what Manning and Richards discussed. Attorney-General John Jeremie was the first to arrive for the National Security Council meeting at Whitehall at 2.45 pm. National Security Minister Martin Joseph arrived at 2.58 pm.

He was followed by head of the Police Service’s Criminal Intelligence Unit ACP James Philbert, Police Commissioner Trevor Paul, Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Ancil Antoine and Special Anti-Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago (SAUTT) director Brigadier Peter Joseph.

Also seen entering Whitehall before the start of the meeting were Education Minister Hazel Manning and Junior Finance Minister Conrad Enill.

None of them spoke to the media before they entered Whitehall.

When the meeting ended at 4 pm, Jeremie and Joseph departed through the front gates of Whitehall but refused to speak to journalists who had been waiting there since 2 pm. Paul and the heads of the protective services departed through the rear entrance of Whitehall on Serpentine Road at about 4.05 pm.

At about 4.15 pm, a security officer approached the front gates of Whitehall to inform the media that the meeting had ended and all the National Security Council members had left the compound by way of the rear entrance.

The officer indicated that the Prime Minister was still on the compound but he did not know whether he would be willing to tell the media what was discussed by the council.

Whitehall officials subsequently indicated that Manning had not given any word about holding a news conference but if he did, the media would be informed immediately.

The officials also could not say whether the Prime Minister would still be able to make any part of the trip he was supposed to make to Africa last week but cancelled because of events relating to the controversy involving Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma.

Contacted by phone, the Police Commis-sioner declined to say what matters were discussed by the National Security Council. Asked if the council discussed the implementation of a limited State of Emergency in TT, Paul replied, “The inquiry that you are making of me, is wrongly directed.”