[UPDATED] RACE LIES

THE Prime Minister condemned former Strategic Services Agency (SSA) officer Carlton Dennie for alleging that he instructed him to fire East Indians from the SSA. Dennie made these allegations at a United National Congress (UNC) public meeting in Debe on Monday night. Dr Rowley also condemned UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar for being "prepared to sacrifice the country" to get back into power by promoting "racial strife and racial discord in TT."

At a news conference at the Diplomatic Centre, Rowley said Dennie's allegations could not go unanswered because they could "tear the social fabric of this country."

He said the allegation caused him to take the unprecedented step to make public, the contents of secret national security documents to demonstrate, "There is evidence to prove that person is dangerous, that statement is a lie and the person who put him on a platform is also dangerous to the people of TT."

Rowley said an October 23, 2009 SSA report showed Dennie was being investigated for unacceptable behaviour as far back as 2005. The October document referred to a July 4, 2008 report about Dennie actions. Rowley reminded reporters that at the time of these reports, he was a parliamentary backbencher in the Patrick Manning government.

In the 2009 report, Dennie was being investigated for insubordination, task avoidance and inciteful/disruptive activity. The report said Dennie bypassed the chain of command, deliberately stated untruths and recommended his contract not be renewed. Rowley observed that Dennie's contract was extended after the PNM lost the May 2010 general election.

Referring to a September 10, 2012 report, Rowley said Dennie and another officer were being investigated for the removal of two large pieces of computer equipment and associated wiring from a facility at Piarco.

"This action by the individuals disrupted the network system. They brought down the intelligence unit's infrastructure network and internet services for several days." He said if Persad-Bissessar knew about this, why would she come seven years later and pick Dennie to "lie on the prime minister of TT."

As the SSA's former director of intelligence, Rowley said Dennie never attended meetings of the National Security Council (NSC) and would never have been instructed by him to do anything. He said only the SSA director attends NSC meetings. Rowley said he never spoke with Dennie in person, by letter or by phone. “I don’t know the man.”

Rowley said Dennie's firing in 2015 was not because he was told to fire SSA officers based on race and he refused to do so. Rowley claimed the real danger was Persad-Bissessar leaving Dennie at the SSA and then using him in a disgraceful way, completely disregarding the effect that his "lie could have on the society of TT." Rowley said only Persad-Bissessar "could seek out and promote such voices" because she is desperate to get back into power.

Dennie's claims, Rowley continued, have the potential to divide TT into racial camps and separate the races so "they could vote along racial lines." Asked whether legal or other action would be taken against Dennie and Persad-Bissessar, Rowley replied, "The only action that I want taken, is I want the population to pay attention to what Mrs Persad-Bissessar and the UNC are doing."

He also said Dennie's appearance at the UNC meeting was the sign of "a man who knows were to go to get a promise from a person who hired Reshmi Ramnarie to run the SSA." Rowley said the population could be assured that if the UNC wins next year's election, Dennie could "end up as head of the SSA." Any question of Dennie's unsuitability to be employed at the SSA, he continued, has been, "completely removed by his appearance on a UNC platform."

Rowley said it was one thing for the UNC to walk up and down the East West Corridor pretending to be "concerned about black people." But he added Dennie's claims were "beyond comprehension" and must be condemned by all citizens. Declaring his record in public life could stand scrutiny and no one could ever accuse him of being biased towards anyone, Rowley said the PNM did not have to resort to to these tactics to win an election. He also said this was a continuation of the UNC's "No Rowley" campaign from the 2015 general election.

This story was originally published with the title "PM denies SSA allegations" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

THE Prime Minister categorically rejected former Strategic Services Agency (SSA) officer Carlton Dennie's allegations that he instructed him to fire East Indians who were employed at the SSA. Dr Rowley was responding to statements made by Dennie at a UNC public meeting in Debe on Monday night. "This is a categorical lie," Rowley told reporters at a news conference at the Diplomatic Centre on Tuesday.

He explained that only the SSA Director attends National Security Council (NSC). As a junior SSA officer, Rowley said Dennie never attended any NSC meetings nor did he communicate with him in person, by phone call or by letter. Checks of all national security records, Rowley continued, confirm this. He disclosed that Dennie has questions to answer. Referring to excerpts from a national security document from October 2009, Rowley said Dennie was faces charges of insubordination, task avoidance and inciteful and disruptive behaviour.

He disclosed another document from September 2012, said Dennie and another officer were being investigated for the removal of servers and other computer equipment from a secure location at the Piarco International Airport. Rowley questioned whether then NSC chairman and prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was aware of this, when she brought Dennie to speak at the UNC's meeting on Monday.

Rowley said he had to respond quickly because the allegations made by Dennie had the potential to tear the country's social fabric. He also said this showed a desperation by Persad-Bissessar and the UNC to try to divide TT into racial camps in order to get back into government. Rowley called upon all citizens to condemn the actions of the UNC.