Diplomat’s roving fun

ALTHOUGH they are virtually above the law, diplomats and their spouses should be circumspect about the way they conduct themselves in our country. As guests of Trinidad and Tobago, they must be aware of our problems, particularly the disturbing level of crime in our society, and should avoid doing anything that may aggravate these difficulties. If he did not enjoy diplomatic immunity, Frediico De Salazar Arguello could well have been arrested and charged on Tuesday morning when E-999 officers found him at WallerField with a gun for which he did not have a firearm user’s licence. Salazar Arguello, however, happens to be the husband of Monica De Salazar who happens to be the Third Secretary at the German Embassy in Port-of-Spain. The passing E-999 officers were first attracted by a Suzuki Vitera vehicle parked near the racing circuit at WallerField. On investigating, they found De Salazar seated inside.

According to reports, the officers asked him what he was doing there and whether he had anything illegal in his possession.  De Salazar then produced the gun he had in his possession, claiming that he was the husband of a diplomat. They took him to La Horquetta Police Station where they were able to verify the information he had given and then allowed him to leave. It turned out that the gun belongs to Monica de Salazar whose name is on the licence. She described her husband’s interrogation by the Police as “a breach of diplomatic immunity.” They were not supposed to ask him to get out of the car, search or arrest him, she said. Both the gun and the vehicle belonged to her, she added. The fact is, of course, that the officers had no idea who De Salazar really was and we cannot fault them for the action they took in checking his identity and his story. Indeed, many may feel a greater sense of assurance for the initiative the E-999 policemen showed, having regard to the crime situation in our country.

The point we wish to make here is that the German diplomat, conscious of the proliferation of firearms within the criminal element and the level of armed robbery and violence in TT, should not have allowed her husband to be moving about the country, especially in relatively lonely places as the WallerField racing track, with her gun. And although, as her spouse, he also enjoys diplomatic immunity, the fact is that he was in breach of the law which states that anyone who carries a gun must have a licence to do so or, in default, face a fine or jail term. Deputy Commissioner of Police Trevor Paul told Newsday that the matter is not as yet closed; that it will be investigated and properly assessed.

Our hope is that the incident will send a message to the diplomatic community in our country that having immunity from prosecution should not be considered as a licence to act improperly or even to break the law. Recently, we have had other unfortunate cases in which the wife of a diplomat allegedly bit a teacher and officers of the Four Road Police Station were verbally abused by the relative of another diplomat. We understand the need for diplomatic ties among nations and the need to have reciprocal foreign embassies and consulates in our capital, but we expect a certain standard of conduct from the people who man these missions.