ttgapers.com

Trinidad and Tobago security forces were placed on high alert yesterday after a plot was uncovered to assassinate Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and Foreign Affairs and Information Minister Dr. Surujrattan Rambachan. The plot was to be put into action today. Police sources said the threat has also extended to certain senior police officers.

Up to late yesterday, more than ten persons were in police custody in connection with the alleged plot. Among them, a police sergeant who was arrested while on duty at the St Clair Police Station. He was taken to the Woodbrook Police Station. The son of a prominent contractor in Valsayn was also arrested by police. The suspects are being housed in separate police stations along the East-West Corridor.

A senior government source said: "This assassination plot, the security forces have stated, is based on the anger of some criminals because of the imposition of the State Of Emergency, which was effective. This plot is a well orchestrted plan to show that the State of Emergency was a dismal failure and an attempt to destabilise the Government."

"Security has been heightened for the Prime Minister and the three ministers. The State is ready and capable of doing what is necessary and has placed all mechanisms in place to dismantle the threat," the government source said.

A senior government minister, who asked not to be named, said, "The police are on high alert about certain matters involving State security. They unearthed an assassination plot against the Prime Minister and the Attorney General, who are specific targets, by an extremist fringe group, comprising various discreet elements from criminal underworld gangs and persons suspected to be involved in the international drug and arms trade."

Attempts to contact Persad-Bissessar, Griffith, National Security Minister John Sandy and Housing Minister and leader of government business Roodal Moonilal were futile. It is not the first threat that Persad-Bissessar has received. During her 2010 election campaign, she was provided with security after she reported a death threat to the police. Persad-Bissessar, head of the National Security Council, recently lifted the 11 pm-4 am curfew imposed as part of state of emergency measures last August. The state of emergency remains in effect.