Clive Lancelot Small, the Jamaat Al Muslimeen member who was found guilty of conspiring to possess and possession of machine guns and firearm silencers in the United States yesterday has said he is delighted it is all over.
By Mark BassantSmall, also known as Olive Enyahooma El, telephoned the eldest of his sons, Neil Small, from a Miami Federal prison hours after he was found guilty in a Fort Lauderdale court and spoke with him for two hours on Tuesday night. Neil relayed the conversation exclusively to the Daily Express yesterday.
Neil said his father said he was "happy that it is all over. I have lived my life and I am 70 years of age".
Neil added: "It was not like you were putting a 39 year-old man in jail."
Small has been in regular telephone contact with his eldest son since he was extradited to the United States last November from Trinidad to face gun running charges in the US.
His son said the entire family was happy that the "harrowing ordeal was finally finished". Small has seven children-four daughters and three sons-all residing in the United States, according to Neil.
"It's not like someone has to say that they bringing this and that to court now," were Small's words to his son.
When questioned about Yasin Abu Bakr and his relationship with Small, his son replied, "Well he said the Imam will always be his Imam.It's like Reverend Charles being your Reverend."
Small however has not been able to communicate with Bakr since he was extradited as he has to place names of people on a list for the authorities to first approve before he can speak with them, Neil said.
"But when he is sentenced and sent to any jail depending on where there's room in the United States, he can speak with anyone," he added.
Small will be sentenced on August 4 by Judge William Dimitrouleas. The Daily Express understands the US prosecution will be going for a 20-year sentence under a new law because of Small's link with terrorism,as well as a US$250,000 fine.
Small, according to his son, has accepted the facts of what they(US government) put forward, but his father said he was set up.
"My father paid his price for his mistakes in 1990 and he still has to pay for it now.He has to suffer all the bumps and bruises. This case was decided the day that the American government contacted the Trinidad and Tobago authorities and said they wanted my dad," Neil said.
