Senior Reporter
Although the Preventive Detention Orders (PDOs) for businessman Dominic Hadeed and his wife Genevieve are yet to be gazetted, information continues to emerge on the contributing factors that led to their arrest.
One of the allegations in the PDOs is that a conversation following the recent debate on the extension of the State of Emergency sparked a conversation which put the Hadeeds on the T&T Police Service’s (TTPS) radar.
The information is contained in an affidavit filed by attorney Ramdath Phillip, of the TTPS, on behalf of acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Homeland Security, Videsh Maharaj, in the matter now before Justice Frank Seepersad, where the Hadeeds are challenging their detentions.
It was revealed that the couple was informed that PDOs were issued in their names by Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander on June 27. The PDOs were served on the Hadeeds later that same day.
The detention order for Dominic Hadeed read: “The detainee, Dominic Hadeed, had been credibly identified through intelligence received as being involved in an ongoing conspiracy to assassinate senior members of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and/or serving Members of Parliament. The intelligence indicates that, following statements made in Parliament during the debate on the extension of the present State of Emergency, the detainee expressed violent intentions by stating words to the effect that persons would be shot in their head. Intelligence further indicates that these statements were made in furtherance of a developing plan to target members of the Government. The detainee is a person of substantial financial means and influence with the resources, access and capability to facilitate serious organised criminal activity. Intelligence further indicates that his continued liberty presents a real and immediate risk of facilitating the execution of plans intended to destabilise the Government of Trinidad and Tobago through violence.”
The PDO was issued pursuant to Regulation 14 of the Emergency Powers Regulations 2026, which proclaimed it was, “Necessary to disrupt these plans and prevent him from acting in a manner prejudicial to public safety.”
The PDO issued in the name of Genevieve Hadeed contained similar allegations and claimed it was “necessary to provide for her preventive detention with a view to preventing her from acting in a manner prejudicial to public safety.”
The PDO continued, “The detainee, Genevieve Hadeed, also called Genevierve Hadeed, has been credibly identified as participating in an ongoing conspiracy directed at the assassination of members of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.
“Intelligence indicates that the detainee made statements to the effect that the death of the Prime Minister, members of Government and members of Parliament were required following public statements made during the parliamentary debate on the extension of the State of Emergency. The intelligence further demonstrates that the detainee is associated with other persons involved in the conspiracy and that her continued liberty creates a substantial risk that plans to carry out acts of violence against members of the Government may proceed.”
It added, “These threats, viewed in the context of the ongoing State of Emergency and the surrounding intelligence, constitute a direct threat to public safety and national security. A Preventive Detention Order pursuant to Regulation 14 of the Emergency Powers Regulations 2026 is necessary to disrupt these plans and prevent her from acting in a manner prejudicial to public safety.”
What was said in SoE debate
During the debate on the extension of the SoE, Attorney General John Jeremie revealed that the Government will be going after white-collar criminals and those who facilitate organised crime.
He said Government’s focus will now extend to gangs, including those who describe themselves in percentages, such as the “one per cent,” which has been used to refer to the Syrian/Lebanese community in T&T.
“An infraction of the law by the powerful and the one per cent is no different from an infraction of the law by the poor little black youths in Morvant and Laventille. We are not here speaking to action taken by our allies in the north. We have no control over that,” the AG said in reference to citizens who had their visas revoked by the US government, some of whom he said had come to him seeking help to get the matter rectified.
“What we do have control over, is what our law enforcement tells us about some of the activities of these persons. The time when they received the keys to the city and licence to mash up the place. That time is over.”
He stressed that such protection no longer exists for some people, as authorities would act against anyone found to be involved in illegal activity.
“To those persons among us who consider that their wealth allows them guarantees from prosecution and from the attention of law enforcement bodies, we say those days are behind us. If you behave as gang members do, you shall be treated in exactly the same way that blue-collar gang members are. If your designation happens to be within the one per cent, it happens to be six, seven, or eight, Teteron (prison) awaits.”
Jeremie also said Government is prepared to deal with the consequences that follow.
He said, “If you target me, as I expect you will, or my Prime Minister, as you have, hiding behind the newspapers you control. If, as our intelligence suggests, you have in contemplation more and direct action, the indignity of the cells at Teteron (prison) awaits.”
