Wade Mark: Is there a police 'mongoose gang'?

OPPOSITION Senator Wade Mark on Wednesday asked whether the police service (TTPS) has a secret "mongoose gang" which was responsible for snatching arms dealer Brent Thomas from Barbados.

He asked the question during a media briefing at the Opposition Leader's office in Port of Spain.

He displayed recent front pages of Barbadian newspapers which referred to the extraction of Thomas by the TTPS, in a case that was roundly and sharply criticised by High Court judge Justice Devindra Rampersad.

Mark said in the absence of any formal request for extradition proceedings by this country to Barbados, a TT citizen was forcibly taken from that country and brought back to TT.

"This was deemed by the High Court judge as illegal and unlawful.

"Is there a secret mongoose gang operating in the police service and taking instructions from (post of a national office called) and not the Commissioner of Police?

"How come police who abducted Mr Brent Thomas unlawfully, illegally and unconstitutionally...how come they are still in their jobs? How come they have not been suspended?"

The term mongoose gang is one used fir thugs operating at the behest of politicians and was popularised in the Caribbean after allegations of such a gang existing and carrying out instructions of then Grenada prime minister, the late Eric Gairy.

Mark called on Commissioner of Police Erla Christopher to make a statement on the Thomas affair.

Showing copies of Barbados newspapers which reported on the Thomas issue, Mark slammed the Prime Minister for choosing to attack Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar at the PNM's family day in Toco on Sunday instead of addressing the Thomas issue.

Mark said, "I want to put the Government on notice, that they have gone too far. We will be considering very seriously writing to the Secretary General of the UN on this matter, asking for an intervention."