TPP leader on police searches: We will drag them to court

INTERIM political leader of the Tobago People’s Party (TPP), Chief Secretary Farley Augustine, said on Sunday the THA will use all its resources to ensure those responsible for the searches at his official residence and the homes and offices of other THA secretaries and public servants are brought to justice.

Last month, officers of the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau searched the homes and offices of several THA officials and public servants. The move is thought to be part of a probe into a controversial audio clip in which people, believed to be high-ranking government officials, were heard planning to use THA resources to fund a political propaganda campaign.

The audio recording began circulating on social media on May 23.

Augustine alleged that the leaked clip was an attempt at extortion by a well-known contractor who is owed millions of dollars by the THA. The ACIB and Integrity Commission are probing the matter.

He also alleged that Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher, the government and others were in cahoots to destabilise his administration. Harewood-Christopher has denied all allegations.

On Sunday, Augustine stuck to his position that the government has been using the police in an attempt to undermine the THA.

“When they (government) cannot get their way, they call the Commissioner of Police…and they come and try to terrorise the elected members of the THA,” he said. “More than that, they find themselves in the house of people who we ain’t even hire – people who are working for the THA for over ten years.”

Augustine said the relationship between Tobago and Trinidad has never been this way.

“We have never had a situation where the government of TT will use the machinations of the TT Police Service to come and terrorise people because they simply do not agree with them because we voted them out of office.

“In the coming week, we will go at them with everything we have and we will drag all of them to court and let Erla Christopher account for how she is managing the TTPS.”

He also issued a warning to the “overexuberant” police officers on the island.

“Remember you are Tobagonian first. Remember you live among us first.

"That is not a threat. That is a reminder so that you understand who you are.

"I recognise that there are really no PNM Tobagonians, inno," he added, "only confused Tobagonians.”