Senior Reporter
Dominic and Genevieve Hadeed are relieved to be reunited with loved ones after Homeland Security Minister revoked their Preventive Detention Orders (PDO) yesterday, immediately freeing the couple.
Their release came a week after the State successfully applied to the Appeal Court to reject another appeal panel’s decision to place the couple on house arrest as they remain subject to police investigations into allegations they were part of a conspiracy to murder Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and other Government members.
Speaking with the media outside the couple’s Pine Avenue, Bayshore, Westmoorings home yesterday, businessman and family friend Peter George Jr said the couple was relieved to be home.
“It’s been a long journey, as you can all imagine and obviously, they’re relieved. And certainly, there’s a sense of family reuniting with their family after four weeks. There’s a certain sense of contentment in the family now, so at the very least, they’re just obviously extremely happy to be home.”
One of the conditions that Alexander considered in dismissing the PDOs was Dominic’s health, an issue raised during their appeal of the matter. Asked about the businessman’s health, George said there were some challenges in the last four weeks but he (Hadeed) was in good spirits.
“I guess, at the right time, the appropriate family medical practitioners will look at him and ensure everything is in good order. But looking at him, he’s certainly in good shape and in good spirits.”
George said he could not say when the couple was released, but noted that after last week’s incident, where the couple was ordered released on house arrest, only for Dominic to be let out of his cell for a few minutes before the court rescinded the release, relatives were initially sceptical as word began spreading.
As for the next step, George said it’s all about love and reuniting with family members not seen in a month. George was one of several people visiting the family yesterday. The couple also received a delivery of yellow and pink roses.
Asked about the first encounter with the couple after their release, George said: “It was a big embrace because we have actually been through a lot. Some of us went to visit them in detention, the time was not… you weren’t given lots of time.
“It really is making up for all of the lost time. It’s really what it was. So, it’s nothing more than that. No one’s discussing the matter. Right now, it’s just a big scene of love. And again, I don’t want to keep using the word over and over, but relief. It really is what it is.
Asked about the visit of a priest, George said it was a family friend coming to continue his counselling of the family impacted by the ordeal.
“The family is one of very deep faith. He’s also been here virtually every single day and every single night, counselling and helping the family get through this ordeal. And that’s just a continuation of that,” he said.
Apart from family and friends, Deacon Anthony Christopher Mauge, of the Bride of Yeshua Messiah Assembly, visited. While not related to the couple, he said she showed up to witness the answered prayers for the Hadeeds’ release.
“I thank Yahweh God that he’s a prayer-answering God and our prayers were answered expeditiously that they could have been reunited with their loved ones. I’m just happy with Yahweh God, Most High Elohim, that they have been reunited with their loved ones, with their family.”
Asked if he prayed for all other SoE detainees, Mauge said yes.
“I always lift the prison bars because, you know, they are also just, you know, many of them, some committed a lot of things and incarcerated, but I lift them and their family as well. So, it’s not that I just pray for the Hadeeds, but it really touched my heart when I see the situation that they incarcerated and they’re away from their loved ones, especially their children. They are minors!”
While the Hadeeds were released yesterday, the court hearing for their supposed co-conspirator Star Sabga, who is also challenging her PDO, takes place today.
While at the family’s home, Guardian Media saw several vehicles entering and leaving the compound. One of the visitors called on the media to “go home and leave the people alone.”
Some neighbours chose not to comment on the mood of the quiet community when approached.
