People’s National Movement (PNM) Senator Foster Cummings yesterday warned that the leaked Hadeed-Sabga audio recording raises serious questions about citizens’ privacy rights, saying every person should be concerned if private conversations can no longer remain private.
He said it appears that even senior citizens are being subjected to the Government’s “heavy-handed abuse of executive power.”
“The international community will undoubtedly take note of the continued erosion of constitutional rights and the abuse of executive power against citizens. My heart goes out to the many families who have become victims of this Government’s increasingly dictatorial conduct. Disturbingly, it appears even our senior citizens are now being subjected to this heavy-handed abuse of executive power.”
He said it was alarming that the Interception of Communications Act could be abused in this way.
“Is it that the private conversations of citizens are now being intercepted without due process or the judicial safeguards required by law? Even more disturbing is the fact that such communications could be leaked—an unforgivable invasion of privacy and total betrayal of public trust.”
Cummings said the Government owes the country an apology and that if any public official or Government minister is found to have exceeded their lawful authority or abused executive power, “they should be held accountable and appropriate action should be taken.”
Elderly woman venting but
no “death plot” — Robinson
Political strategist and consultant Pearce Robinson, who analysed the audio, said in a Facebook post that it did not establish an assassination plot.
“The audio records an elderly woman venting privately to her niece about what she believed was the persecution of her community. It records assertions of innocence, concern for livelihoods, discussion of the employment and treatment of black citizens, racial and political hostility, and reckless predictions of violence. The Government converted that private conversation into a national-security allegation and detained three citizens under extraordinary powers.
“Dominic Hadeed is absent, Genevieve Hadeed repeatedly speaks of innocence, Star Sabga identifies no agreement or action directed towards assassinating the Prime Minister,” Robinson added.
Robinson said the racial slur used towards “Kamla” should not have been used. However, he said the gravest statements were Sabga’s predictions of political violence.
“Those words justified investigation to determine whether any material threat existed. They reveal anger and an irresponsible prediction that violence could occur. (But) they identify no person who agreed to commit violence, no intended attacker, no weapon, no instructions and no act directed towards carrying out a killing.”
He said the public deserved answers.
Not too late for
Government reset — Mohammed
Political scientist Dr Shane Mohammed said the issue had shifted from an alleged threat against the Prime Minister’s life to a wider national security and political controversy.
“We’ve gone from an alleged threat on the Prime Minister’s life to a national security issue in which the PM has gone from being loved to being hated, and it’s now a political furore,” he said, noting comments on social media.
Mohammed said the Government still had an opportunity to change course.
“Taking all things into consideration, it’s not too late to reset. I’m not ‘spinning’ anything. Giving an honest opinion and at the risk of coming across biased, I believe the PM needs honest advice in the interest of all. The bottom line is to ‘read the ground,’ and it’s not too late for reset,” he said.
